Oklahoma Supreme Court unanimously greenlights Trump rally amid coronavirus concerns
President Trump is free to restart his rally circuit.
Trump's first campaign rally since the COVID-19 pandemic began will be allowed to go on this weekend, the Oklahoma Supreme Court ruled Friday. While attorneys argued the event should be blocked to avoid becoming a coronavirus "super spreader," the court unanimously decided it wouldn't "fashion rules or regulations where none exist," the Oklahoman reports.
Attorneys objected to Trump's rally at the BOK Center in Tulsa, Oklahoma, which holds nearly 20,000 people, "unless the campaign instituted social distancing protocols." The arena's management team contended that the Trump campaign had already agreed to the arena's health protocols, which included taking temperatures of and providing masks to attendees. The court's nine judges agreed with the BOK Center's argument, saying there were no apparent laws that would mandate social distancing or wearing masks. Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt (R) suggested anyone worried about health stay home from the rally.
The BOK Center released a statement Thursday asking the Trump campaign to provide its own health and safety plan for the rally. New COVID-19 infection rates have more than doubled in Oklahoma in the past week.