On Saturday, October 26, former President and current Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump traveled to Penn State to speak at the Bryce Jordan Center (BJC) on the campaign trail. Trump spoke to rally attendees for around 80 minutes, though most of the day’s action happened outside the BJC.

Doors for the rally opened at noon, but lines formed to get into the BJC much earlier. By 9 a.m., around 300 people were lined up outside Gate B and the Founder’s Entrance. Those lines filled to the brim just as noon struck. A heavy police presence, including state troopers, Secret Service, and private security, stayed around crowds.

Not all those outside the rally supported Trump. One man walked around the lines with a sigh encouraging Republicans to vote against Trump. Two other men with signs, a loudspeaker, and a necklace that read “SIN” in orange letters warned attendees about the state of their souls. Another group of about five Kamala Harris supporters stood outside Gate A, largely only speaking when they were spoken to.

Attendees moved into the arena with little issue at noon. All attendees entered through Gate B. Most attendees who were standing in line were inside the BJC by 2 p.m. Around 2:45 p.m., security stopped letting people into the arena. Around 150-200 people began queueing on Curtin Road after the gates were shut but never entered the BJC.

As attendees filed into the arena, the Student Committee for Defense and Solidarity (SCDS) and the People’s Defense Front (PDF) rallied on Saturday in protest of the rally. After marching through downtown State College and up University Drive, the group made its way to the Bryce Jordan Center and interacted with Trump’s supporters.

Police made a point to separate the protesters and rally attendees on Curtin Road outside the Bryce Jordan Center. At certain points, Trump supporters attempted to antagonize the group, though no actual conflict resulted from the protest. The only violence occurred before the group began marching when a man wearing a red Trump hat pushed one of the protesters on the corner of Shortlidge Road and College Avenue. The protester was unharmed.

In addition to the SCDS and the PDF, the protest was co-sponsored by the Central PA Trans Alliance, the Centre County Democratic Socialists, and the Pittsburgh-based Steel City Anti-Fascist League.

The protest began at the corner of Shortlidge Road and College Avenue at 1:40 p.m., where a group of about 50 people met. At 2 p.m., the group began chanting several phrases, including, “No Trump, no KKK, no fascists in Pa.,” “Fight back, shut it down. Run MAGA out of town,” “Dare to struggle. Dare to win,” and more.

The group began its march through State College around 2:40 p.m. Beginning on Garner Street, the group marched down Beaver Avenue, High Street, and College Avenue, before marching onto University Drive.

The protesters stopped while over the University Drive bridge running on top of College Avenue, unfurling a banner on the west side of the bridge. The banner fell over the road poorly and couldn’t be read.

The group continued up University Drive and stopped at the intersection of Curtin Road and University Drive. As they approached the rally, the protesters began to interact with other protesters and Trump supporters.

The group paused outside Gate A of the Bryce Jordan Center to chant for several minutes before turning right onto Curtin Road. As it reached the bus stop outside the BJC, the group again stopped in front of the crowd of Trump supporters still outside the arena.

The protesters chanted for several minutes standing around five yards from the sidewalk where the Trump supporters stood. A few Trump supporters danced in front of and mocked the protesters, but there was no fighting.

The protesters made a U-turn and began walking eastbound on Curtin Road. At one point, a Trump supporter seemingly attempted to start a fight with one of the protesters, but a state trooper pushed him back to the sidewalk. At that point, four state troopers on horseback made their way between the protesters and Trump supporters, forcing the two sides away from each other. Several protesters cursed at the officers as the larger group made its way down Curtin Road.

The group finished its rally on the lawn outside the Millenium Science Complex and disbanded around 4:45 p.m.

Trump began his speech at the BJC around 5:40 p.m. He went through his standard campaign speech, talking about immigration, the economy, and Kamala Harris’ time as vice president. After bringing up several current and former Penn State wrestlers, Trump finished his speech at 7 p.m. He remained on stage for a few moments longer to dance to “YMCA” by Village People before walking off the floor at 7:02 p.m.