PORTAGE, Mich. — Safety and Security were top of mind for both attendees and officials involved in Kamala Harris' Kalamazoo County rally.
The rally saw an intense swath of security- with state, federal and local officials from the Secret Service, Michigan State Police, Kalamazoo Public Safety and the local Portage Police Department.
All entities involved had officers near the stage, with higher ranking officials, like the Kalamazoo county sheriff and undersheriff and the chief of the portage department of safety, monitoring the campaign's events out of a building across the street they described as the 'command center.'
Wednesday's event in Portage marks the first campaign event from either party since the attempted assassination of Donald Trump at a rally in Pennsylvania, where one was killed and two others were injured. Harris' visit also comes just three days before an announced Trump rally in Grand Rapids on Saturday.
Harris' rally, taking place at the Kalamazoo Air Zoo, was not open to the public. Instead, seats for the rally were invite only. With the vice president speaking to a group of local officials, residents and teachers.
Further, the rally's location was undisclosed to the public, with some attendees saying they received the location less than 24 hours before it began.
Rallygoers 13 ON YOUR SIDE spoke with said the measures were expansive, but not overwhelming- more so glad that steps were being taken to ensure the safety of everyone involved.
Daniel Bowen was one of the attendees who was given an invitation. He said his experience receiving the call was one unlike others in the past.
"I got a phone call from the campaign, and they invited me to this event. They said that they would give me information about the time and place," Bowen said. "I got the invite last night while we were sitting having dinner and made the plans to come today. It was very just like, kind of like in the dark up until the very last minute."
Supporters invited to the event either emailed the campaign asking to attend, or were called themselves, like Bowen.
"All I had was a day. That's all I had was just, it's happening on Wednesday, and then the night before, you will get a contact or information about an invite," Bowen said.
Bowen said though some changes in security were obvious, they didn't hinder the event itself. Only acting as obstacles for those interested in attending a campaign event.
"It's frustrating, but I think it's very important to get involved and get involved in our democracy," Bowen said. "What happened last Saturday, I can see, like, why this might be a change in policy just because of security and everything else," Bowen said.
Still, the changes reflect a somber moment in American politics- the attempted assassination of a presidential candidate. Attending these events, Bowen said, is the key to moving past dark moments in history.
"It makes me scared. It makes me scared for the future," Bowen said. "That's why I'm so passionate about coming here today."
Bowen said any obstacles to the typical democratic process should be vaulted. Even through TSA-like security and sudden calls, Bowen said he believes it's more important than ever to participate in the country's politics.
"It's worth it to come, because democracy is not a back seat type of thing," Bowen said. "You need to get involved. And I made it here, and I'm just a teacher from Battle Creek. If I can make it here, anybody else can make it here."
After Harris' visit to Michigan, Director of Public Safety for the City of Portage Nick Armold said he's proud of the level of safety provided, especially because local law enforcement had limited time to prepare. He told 13 ON YOUR SIDE the day went smoothly.