I’m very grateful that alert and fast-acting protectors from Gavin de Becker and Associates (GDBA) spotted and detained an armed man who attempted to approach me at my Hispanic Heritage speech at the Wilshire Ebell Theatre in Los Angeles tonight. The man, wearing two shoulder holsters with loaded pistols and spare ammunition magazines was carrying a U.S. Marshal badge on a lanyard and beltclip federal ID. He identified himself as a member of my security detail. Armed GDBA team members moved quickly to isolate and detain the man until LAPD arrived to make the arrest. I’m also grateful to LAPD for its rapid response.
I’m still entertaining a hope that President Biden will allow me Secret Service protection. I am the first presidential candidate in history to whom the White House has denied a request for protection.
I think I’ve reached the second last step of conspiracy theorist. I’ve now circled back to the conclusion that the real problem is conspiracy theorists.
I just saw a video from a credible source that climate change is affecting the gravitational pull of the earth and that’s why my pants don’t fit anymore.
I hate all the malinformation around the homeless problem in #VancouverDTES it’s simply not true.
The word is unhoused and it’s not a problem. You know how many single use needles they’ve kept out of landfills? Care about the climate and check your privilege, tax payers.
This man's name is Rick Rescorla.
22 years ago today, Rick disobeyed orders, and saved 2700 lives.
Rick was the head of security for Morgan Stanley in the South Tower of the World Trade Center. He warned that the Towers' basements were vulnerable to attack.
His warnings fell on deaf ears.
Then the 1993 attack happened, and people started listening to him.
After that attack, Rick implemented regular evacuation drills, using his megaphone to direct the thousands of employees out of their offices, down the stairwells, and out of the building to safety.
Born in Cornwall, Rick would sing Welsh and Cornish songs from his megaphone, as he directed the employees out of the building.
He would routinely tell all of the employees: in an emergency, no matter what chaos is happening around you, no matter what anyone tells you, leave your offices, go down the stairwells, and leave the building.
Rick told his wife Susan that he suspected another attack on the World Trade Center would happen, this time by air.
And 22 years ago today, on September 11, 2001, that attack happened.
When the first plane hit the North Tower, the Port Authority announced over the South Tower's speaker system "Please do not leave the building. This area is secure."
Rick ignored them.
"The dumb sons of b------s told me not to evacuate," he said to his best friend Dan. "They said it's just Building One. I told them I'm getting my people the f--k out of here."
And so Rick picked up his megaphone as he had done so many times before, told his employees not to listen to the orders, and directed them out of the building.
His Cornish songs helped keep their nerves calm as they evacuated, even after the second plane hit their Tower.
Once he had successfully evacuated his employees, Rick went back to look for survivors.
But first, he called his wife Susan.
"Stop crying. I have to get these people out safely. If something should happen to me, I want you to know I've never been happier. You made my life."
Rick rushed back to the South Tower.
That was the last time anyone saw him alive.
All but 6 of the more than 2700 Morgan Stanley employees survived.
Had they obeyed the Port Authority, they would all be dead.
Thankfully, they listened to Rick instead.
Rest in Peace, Rick. Thank you for your service.