October 12, 2016
Brian Hickey/PhillyVoice
Arvind Kumar, Bruce Carter and Satya Dosapati are organizing a pro-Trump rally at Independence Mall in Old City.
Maybe the third time will be a charm.
After Mother Nature forced organizers to twice postpone the event – courtesy of Hurricane Matthew – the All American Rally for Trump has been rescheduled for 1:30 p.m. Sunday.
Organizers Satya Dospati, Arvind Kumar and Bruce Carter explained the inspiration for the event at a press conference near the Frank Rizzo statue in Center City the week before the postponements.
“There’s a message that whether it’s African-Americans, blacks, Hindus, Latinos, that they support Trump. We’re supporting a movement, something different,” said Carter.
Speakers scheduled to appear at the rally include Haitian community activist Dahoud Andre, 16th Ward leader Daphne Goggins, radio host Simply Monica and, among others, a performance from “Hispanic singer and songwriter Ruben Obed, a winner of the Puerto Rican talent show, ‘Es Tiempo es Oro.’”
Here is a video of Obed’s pro-Trump salsa anthem, which will assuredly be on the setlist on Sunday.
Organizers hope to provide more than catchy tunes, though.
“The event will also feature a statement from Kathy Shelton who was raped as a 12-year old and whose attacker was defended by Hillary Clinton,” the release reads. “The organizers also hope to rope in Kathleen Willey who has accused Bill Clinton of sexually assaulting her but her participation is pending confirmation.”
Willey appeared at a press conference with Trump before the second Presidential debate on Sunday. She's accused the Democratic candidate's husband of sexually assaulting her while she was a White House volunteer in 1993. She also had some choice words for Bill Cosby on a February appearance on Dom Giordano's show on Talk Radio 1210 WPHT.
It remained unclear whether Willey would appear.
"She communicated her interest in the rally," said Kumar via text message on Wednesday afternoon. "We are in touch with her friend and are awaiting confirmation."
The rally starts at 1:30 p.m. Sunday at People's Plaza, the Independence Mall protest zone near Fifth and Market streets.
