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Trump supporters in Tucson report eye injuries after rally
People who attended Donald Trump’s rally in Tucson last week reported experiencing severe eye pain after the event.
TUCSON, Ariz. — It’s a mystery at a Donald Trump rally that left multiple people with eye injuries and few answers.
The News 4 Tucson Investigators spoke exclusively with six people who were seated on stage behind the former president during his rally in Tucson last week. Three of them agreed to on camera interviews.
All of the people we spoke with experienced eye irritation and sought medical attention.
VERSIÓN EN ESPAÑOL: Varios partidarios de Trump que estuvieron sentados en el escenario durante un mitin en Tucson sufrieron lesiones en los ojos
One of them is Mayra Rodriguez, who became a prominent figure within the Republican Party after becoming a Planned Parenthood “whistleblower.”
Rodriguez used to be a Planned Parenthood Director but made a notable transition into a strong pro-life advocate and supporter of Donald Trump.
Rodriguez said her presence behind Trump at his Tucson rally was ironic because she was seated behind former presidential candidate Hillary Clinton during an event in 2016.
She told News 4 Tucson’s Chief Investigative Reporter Chorus Nylander that she enjoyed the rally but started experiencing severe eye issues after leaving.
“As soon as we left and we stepped outside my eyes were burning,” Rodriguez said.
At first she just thought it was allergies.
She lives near Phoenix, which is about a 90-minute drive from Tucson, by the time she arrived home she said she decided to go to an emergency room.
“The emergency room staff, from the triage nurse to the PA [Physicians Assistant] asked are you sure you didn’t get sprayed with something your symptoms look like you got sprayed with something,” she said.
The N4T Investigators spoke with her on Friday the morning after the event, she was nearly blind.
“I can’t see anything when I try to open my eyes. I see a bright light. It hurts, it hurts a lot to open my eyes. I have this cold cloth I put on and take off constantly. It’s horrible,” she explained.
She said the doctors were not able to pinpoint exactly what caused her injuries. Her vision has started to improve as of Tuesday so her blindness does not appear permanent.
Her initial thoughts of it being allergies seemed to go out the window when she started to hear from several other people that were seated near her at the event, reporting they too suffered eye injuries.
The N4T Investigators spoke with a brother and sister that were seated near Mayra, they did not want to be identified.
“It kept getting worse and worse, my eyes were watering a lot, my nose started running then I started feeling my face get really flushed and my neck felt like it was on fire and it just progressed from there,” the sister said.
Her brother told us, “It was all focused on my eyes, my eyes were red like hell you know, it’s unbearable. I couldn’t handle it.”
The other supporters who did not agree to on camera told us about very similar injuries. One woman who is a local realtor said she had to cancel all her showings over the weekend because she couldn’t see well.
Rodriguez said she reported her experience to the Trump campaign and was told it was investigating.
On Tuesday, after repeated inquiries from the N4T Investigators a Trump Senior Campaign Advisor sent us the following statement:
“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.”
The U.S. Secret Service tells us it was not made aware of the situation but said there was no known threat to former president Trump.
The News 4 Tucson Investigators will update you as we learn more information.
UP TO SPEED
The proceeds will go toward heart research and programs.
MINNEAPOLIS — The only thing better than live music is a concert with a good cause.
You can jam out to country artist Brad Paisley while raising money for research and education at the Heart360 Concert for Heart Research. The fundraiser will take place at the Armory in Minneapolis on Nov. 2.
Proceeds will go toward the Minneapolis Heart Institute Foundation, which aims to reduce heart and vascular diseases across the world.
Brad Paisley is known for Grammy-winning songs such as “Throttleneck” and “Letter to Me.” Tickets range from $50 to $175 and can be purchased at this link on Ticketmaster.
You can also support Heart360’s mission by donating money or purchasing auction items. The auction is live at this link and includes a guitar signed by Brad Paisley and a variety of quality experiences.
Jay Hughes and Nick Robbins joined KARE 11 News at Noon to discuss the event.
BLOOMINGTON, Minn. — The Mall of America is hosting Día de los Muertos or Day of the Dead festival this upcoming weekend.
The Minnesota Latino Museum will host the celebration of culture and creativity in the mall’s atrium from Friday, Nov. 1, to Sunday, Nov. 3, from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Experience the traditions of the Day of the Dead through an altar installation by Minnesota artisan Margarita Sandoval, hands-on workshops and live music.
Jay Hughes and Nick Robbins joined KARE 11 News at Noon to discuss the event.
Authorities requested that Woodbury neighbors check their property, including unlocked cars, under decks or in playsets.
WOODBURY, Minn. — Woodbury police are asking for the public’s help in finding a missing woman with Alzheimer’s, according to a post on Facebook on Wednesday.
Woodbury police said Mary Billmeyer left her home near the Bailey Lake/Twenty-One Oaks neighborhood on Tuesday night or Wednesday morning.
Billmeyer was last seen in pink and white pajamas. Authorities requested that Woodbury neighbors check their property, including unlocked cars, under decks or in playsets.
If you see Billmeyer, call 911.
