The tents and canopies were stretched for blocks and venders lined the curbs as people arrived to get a coveted seat at the big arena.
Word hit the crowds that Mayor Bynum has fully lifted the curfew language, now that the Secret Service is confident of the situation on the ground. The iron wall of 9ft fencing is still not completely installed, and foot traffic is allowed unchecked, in the 'green zone', today. We went downtown to observe the vehicle perimeter. It appears that the only entrances into the green zone will be at 4th & Boulder, and near 7th & Houston. Then a 2nd perimeter will block all access to the arena complex. That inner perimeter seems to have access checkpoints at 3rd & Houston, and 4th & Frisco. We could be slightly off on the exact inner gate locations. |
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At 3pm, the inner checkpoints will check folks for entry credentials to the event. Guests will also have to part with any items not allowed in the auditoriums. Even bottled water will be prohibited, but venders at the arenas will be making concessions available. CBS News was one of the first to publish the lifted curfew status. Here's their language. |
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"On Thursday, the Secret Service asked the City of Tulsa and the Tulsa Police Department to put in place a curfew for the Federal Exclusion Zone near the BOK Center," the city said in a press release. "Today, the Secret Service asked the City to lift the curfew order this weekend. In compliance with this request, the City has rescinded the order."
Police, who began enforcing the curfew Thursday night, said it would mean the scores of Trump supporters who have camped in parking lots and on sidewalks outside ahead of Saturday night's rally at the 19,000-seat arena would have to leave the area during the curfew, or face possible arrest. "Last night, I enacted a curfew at the request of Tulsa Police Chief Wendell Franklin, following consultation with the United States Secret Service based on intelligence they had received," Tulsa Mayor G.T. Bynum said in the release. "Today, we were told the curfew is no longer necessary so I am rescinding it." The announcement comes after the president tweeted that Bynum informed him the curfew was rescinded. |