Clinton rallies after pneumonia for Greensboro rally

Supporters and protestors alike were turned away from Hillary Clinton’s rally in Greensboro on Thursday due to excessive attendance.

The event was Clinton’s first public appearance since her pneumonia incident in New York on Sunday.

Kyra Bilenki, a student at UNC Greensboro and longtime Clinton supporter, was not able to get into the event.

“For me, personally, and my friends, it’s mostly excitement, but I know that there is some negativity surrounding her arrival,” she said. “And obviously the protesters over there kind of show that negativity arriving.”

Sam Foster, an attendee at the event and Donald Trump supporter, was also unable to gain entrance.

“Not even going to lie, Trump is a huge wild card, but is Hillary really fit for president?” he said.

Inside, Clinton began by addressing her pneumonia debacle, where she nearly collapsed while leaving a 9/11 ceremony in New York on Sunday. Later that day, it was revealed she had pneumonia.

“I tried to power through it, but even I had to admit that maybe a few days of rest would do me good,” she said.

Clinton then moved on to more policy-oriented points of her platform. She did not hesitate to take time to call out her Republican presidential opponent, Donald Trump.

“Ask yourself which candidate you can count on to be on your side, respect your family, stand up and fight for you and your kids,” she said.

As the speech went on, she transitioned to a more uniting sentiment, calling the audience to action and urging them to volunteer and vote, especially for down-ballot elections.

“There is nothing we can’t do when we come together as one nation, set big goals, and pursue them,” Clinton said.

Alexander Amaya, student at UNC-G and an attendee of the rally, said he was a supporter of former Democratic presidential primary candidate and U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-V.T., but is shifting his support to Clinton for the general election.

He said he feels positively about how the Clinton campaign has adopted some aspects of Sanders’ platform, but he wishes Clinton would be more transparent.

“(I want her to) outright address the conspiracies, outright address the concerns that a lot of people have,” he said. “A little more honesty, and I think I could fully back her after that.”

Beverly Stallings, business manager of the Department of Dance at UNC-G, watched the event online via livestream. She said she was pleased with how Clinton handled her time at the podium.

“I thought her speech was excellent, and I also thought her speech was right on target with the issues of the day and what we working parents have to face,” she said.

Stallings said she only wants one thing from the Clinton campaign moving forward: “I hope to see them win,” she said. “Win, Hillary, win.”

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