RICHMOND, Va. -- In the past year Richmond has gotten a lot of national publicity for being a destination town, a cool place to be.
Now we're destined to host our third Donald Trump event in that same year.
RVA will be watched.
Friday evening's rally at the Coliseum will be his first big rally since the Republican leadership signaled surrender after the California primary and the first biggie since the violent rally last week in San Jose.
Richmond Police Chief Alfred Durham said RPD, the Virginia State Police and federal authorities will not allow the event to spin out.
Protesters will be kept on the edge of the Coliseum's property, he said. Everyone coming inside will be checked.
"We will not allow or tolerate any types of illegal behavior at this event," Durham stressed Thursday. "Police personnel will take swift action and make arrests if they witness any unlawful acts.
"We refused to let anybody come here and tear our city up," Durham added.
There's no doubt Trump has stirred the pot and inflamed passions.
Some of his Richmond supporters worry about the violence and tension at other rallies across the country. Women and older people have been confronted, which many supporters find completely unacceptable.
"That's not what our country was founded on," said Alison Brantley. "We all have different opinions. We need to respect each other I know that's what makes our country go."
That's why her husband and their friends are going to the rally, but plan to stay outside.
"There's about 30 people were meeting up with," Steve Brantley said.
"We're going to have a brief pow-wow about being safe. We're not out there to cause any issues. We're not out there to be seen on the news. We're going to just show up and act as a buffer. If there are women and older people (being harassed) . . . who better to protect?"
Protests are planned, including the F-Trump group that hopes to have a large number of protesters wearing black, chanting and banging drums. They plan to assemble in Monroe Park before the rally.
Trump foe Will Rosenberry wishes he could join in, but he has to work.
"I feel like it's just as important to stand up for what you don't believe in and what you don't want to see as it is to support the things you do want to see," he said. "I would prefer a peaceful protest. But throughout history, violence seems to be what gets it done."
Friends, if you don't like Trump or his policies, you probably should be at the Coliseum protesting. That's what it's all about.
But if you're a protester causing trouble or violence, I believe that's just going to bring more votes to Trump.
Let's keep it real; let's keep it cool; let's keep it Richmond. The nation will be watching.
