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MURPHYSBORO, IL – President Donald Trump told reporters he could cancel his appearance at a "Make America Great Again" campaign rally in downstate Illinois speak.
"We do not want to let people change our lives," Trump said from the Future Farmers of America event in Indianapolis, his stop before Illinois. "I will go to Illinois and we'll keep it going."
Trump took the stage to the songs of "USA, USA" while the wounds of another national tragedy were fresh in everyone's mind.
A gunman identified as Robert Bowers, 46, of Pittsburgh, on the Tree of Life synagogue in the Squirrel Hill neighborhood of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and began shooting. The shooting took place during a baby-naming ceremony. Bob Jones of Pittsburgh 's FBI field office said the gunman targeted them because of their faith. Authorities confirm 11 people were killed and six wounded, including four police officers as they rushed to the house of worship. The gunman was wounded in a shootout with police.
The Anti-Defamation League describes the killings as "the deadliest attack on the Jewish community in the history of the United States."
"It's a terrible thing what's going on with hate in our country," Trump said after the shooting, calling the killings a "wicked act of mass murder" and "pure evil, hard to believe and frankly something that is unimaginable." He also said the synagogue should have had armed guards.
Trump mentioned the Pittsburgh in Illinois.
"The hearts of all Americans are in grievance," Trump said. "This evil anti-semitic attack is an assault on all of us." "It's an assault on humanity." The scourge of anti-semitism from our world. Semitism can not be ignored, can not be tolerated and can not be allowed to continue.
"We must stand with our Jewish brothers and sisters to defeat anti-Semitism and vanquish the forces of hate."
Trump used the moment to advocate for the death penalty.
"We have to bring back the death penalty," Trump said. "They have to pay the ultimate price."
'Special Attention' On Chicago Synagogues After Shooting: Cops
Trump's rally took place at the Southern Illinois Airport, with a scheduled start for 4:30 pm Central time. This was Trump's Third Appearance in Illinois.
"We want Trump, we want Trump," the crowd chanted.
As expected, Trump touted the candidacy of U.S. Rep. Mike Bost, first-term southern Illinois Republican, who is running against Brendan Kelly in the 12th Congressional District. Trump won the 12th District in 2016.
Bost spoke at the rally first to Trump's arrival. Another Republican congressman in a tough re-election campaign, U.S. Rep. Rodney Davis, also spoke. Davis is facing Democrat Betsy Dirksen Londrigan in the 13th District in central Illinois.
Trump also turned his attention on his favorite targets – Nancy Pelosi, Hillary Clinton and the Democrats. The crowd shouted "lock her up" when Trump mentioned Clinton.
Gov. Bruce Rauner also attended.
A sea of people wearing red "Make America Great Again" waited in long lines Saturday to get into the trump rally. The lines started early in the morning.
In the days before the rally, pop-up selling trump regalia appeared in various spots around Carbondale. Those stands are probably illegal, the Southern Illinoisan reports, because the vendors did not obtain city permits.
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