Were Crowds 'Bused In' To Fill Empty Seats At Kamala Harris' Grand Rapids Rally? Rumors Surface

Vice President Kamala Harris held a campaign rally at Riverside Park in Grand Rapids on Friday, drawing an estimated crowd of 6,000, according to the Grand Rapids Police Department. The rally marked Harris' first visit to the Michigan city since securing the Democratic Party's nomination for President. However, rumors soon circulated that the rally had been "relocated to a smaller venue" due to low attendance. Photos and videos of buses at the event fueled claims that attendees were "bused in" to fill empty seats. These allegations, however, could not be verified.Here's a look at some of the reactions - "The Harris-Walz campaign originally planned a rally today at Van Andel Arena in Grand Rapids, Michigan with a capacity 12,000. Due to lack of interest, the venue was changed to a small public park where dozens of people have been bussed in. The coconut palms have withered," one person claimed on X.Another wrote, "As usual, Harris needed to bus in "rally goers" for her little rally in Grand Rapids Michigan. Notice how the buses are always identical (rented from the same company)."

I live in Grand Rapids. Early this morning there were 25 white buses that came in. The local news had them flowing into the park in the background of their morning report. So, once again, she has to bus in her participants. Where she can chose the ratio of men lol

— Barbara (@LarimarSea7) October 18, 2024

Kamala had to cancel the 12000 seat venue do to lack of interest.
But she managed to bus a few hundred of her own people to this small park in Grand Rapids...🤣 pic.twitter.com/VJQAfqz2k3

— Mr. E. Levin (@ELEVlN_ELEVlN) October 18, 2024

🚨🚨 Kamala Harris originally planned a rally today at Van Andel Arena in Grand Rapids, Michigan with a capacity 12,000.

Due to lack of interest, the venue was changed to a small public park called Riverside Park where a few hundred people have been bussed in. Notice the buses… pic.twitter.com/QpEzMg1vDW

— 🇺🇸↪️aptain Ⓜ️organ🇺🇸 (@CaptainMorganTN) October 18, 2024

A third person claimed, "Kamala Harris rally at Riverside Park in Grand Rapids, originally planned at Van Andel Arena, Michigan with a capacity 12,000 Venue changed to a small public park and they had to BUS in 100's of people to fill the park. Count the BUSES parked in the back as the video pans around."In contrast, videos of long lines outside the venue also surfaced on social media, and many attendees expressed their enthusiasm to local media.“The rally’s always look like a good time, so excited to be energized,” Michigan State University student Kathryn Walterhouse told WOODTV. Another attendee Judy Soderquist told the outlet, "I love Kamala. I love what she stands for. I love her as a person. I’m just excited."