Tucson Trump Rally Sparks Backlash, Mysterious Illness
Rally goers met with hateful rhetoric and unexplained chemical burns to eyesBy Christy Kelly, September 18, 2024 9:06 am
Last week, former President Donald Trump held his first post-debate rally in Tucson, a predominantly left-leaning city. The event took place at the Linda Ronstadt Music Hall, drawing attention to Trump’s new policy announcement and the controversy surrounding the rally before and after.
Before the rally, Pima County Supervisor Adelita Grijalva sparked backlash by posting a profane sign on social media. The sign, which read “F you MAGA, no more Orange” in Spanish, was captioned, “Welcome to Tucson.” At a subsequent Pima County Board of Supervisors meeting, constituents demanded an apology from Grijalva. However, she stood by her actions, stating, “I’ll acknowledge wrongdoing when Trump apologizes for the racist, misogynistic, sexist, inflammatory comments he’s made about women, people of color, LGBTQ…”
Grijalva wasn’t the only notable Tucson figure to oppose the rally. Music legend Linda Ronstadt, whose name adorns the venue, also disapproved. Taking to social media, Ronstadt criticized Trump for holding the event at a building associated with her legacy, stating her deep opposition to his policies.
While the rally drew a large and enthusiastic crowd, it ended with an unexpected turn of events. Approximately 20 attendees, primarily members of the “Latinos for Trump” group who had been onstage, reported becoming ill with mysterious symptoms shortly after the rally concluded. All those who reported falling ill were seated on the side of the stage where Trump made his entrance before approaching the podium.
Pastor Eli Moreno, who opened the rally with prayer, and his wife, Francesca Moreno, were among those affected. Pastor Moreno said that he experienced mild discomfort, but his wife’s symptoms were far more severe. On their drive home, Mrs. Moreno’s nose began to run, her vision blurred, and her face swelled up. They stopped at a Walgreens and encountered another rallygoer with similar symptoms. Mrs. Moreno stated that emergency room doctors flushed her eyes earlier and referred her to an ophthalmologist. Five days later, she was just beginning to feel better.
Mayra Rodriguez, another attendee, also fell ill 30 minutes after leaving the rally, experiencing burning eyes and a severe headache. By the time she arrived at the emergency room, she could no longer open her eyes. After performing a dye test, the doctor informed her that she had suffered a chemical burn. Days later, she continued suffering from blurry vision and light sensitivity.
Several other attendees shared similar stories with The Arizona Globe. The reported symptoms, including blurred vision, severe eye pain, and facial swelling, appeared roughly 30 minutes after the rally ended. One attendee used milk to ease the burning before heading to the hospital, while another reported his face turning red and peeling. They stated that the emergency room staff told them they were not alone—multiple patients from the rally had come in with the same complaints.
The Arizona Globe contacted the Tucson Police Department and the Linda Ronstadt Music Hall for comment, but neither has released a statement.
Danielle Alvarez, Senior Advisor to the Trump campaign, addressed the situation, saying, “The Trump campaign has been collecting information. We remain committed to the countless patriots that attend our high-energy, high-impact rallies across the country.”
