Live updates from Beto O'Rourke's Dallas counter-rally during Trump rally

DALLAS — Beto O'Rourke again went head-to-head with President Donald Trump during a Thursday counter rally. 

Trump was in Dallas Thursday for a campaign rally as he works to win Texas come 2020. Less than 20 miles away, O'Rourke, amid his Democratic presidential campaign, was in Grand Prairie at a rally of his own to confront the president's "dangerous hatred and division." 

"This is all about Texans of good conscience — Democrats, Republicans, Independents, and those who don’t identify politically — coming together to stand up against fear, hatred, racism, and intolerance and to stand up for this country at our defining moment of truth," O'Rourke said in a Wednesday statement. "Everyone is welcome." 

There were 5,532 people who attended the rally, according to O'Rourke's campaign. 

Dueling rallies round two:Dueling rallies round two: Beto O'Rourke plans rally to counter Trump's Dallas visit

Lil’ Keke, Cure for Paronoia, and NuFolk Rebel Alliance performed at O'Rourke's "Rally Against Fear" at The Theatre at Grand Prairie. 

Democratic Senate candidates challenging Sen. John Cornyn were in attendance as well. Those candidates are Royce West, MJ Hegar, Cristina Tzintzn Ramirez, John Love, Michael Cooper, Amanda Edwards and Chris Bell.

This isn't the first time Trump and O'Rourke have held dueling rallies: the first was before O'Rourke was bidding to be president when Trump went to El Paso for his first campaign stop of 2019.

During the March rallies, Trump pushed his plan for a border wall while O'Rourke denounced the president's rhetoric on immigration. 

Ahead of Thursday's event, O'Rourke went on local news station Fox 4 where he discussed the rally. 

"We want all Texans of good conscience to come together against that fear and hatred and for this country," O'Rourke said. 

Here are updates from the rally: 

Beto O'Rourke addresses the crowd

O'Rourke was met by cheers after receiving an introduction from Rev. Michael Waters. The Aug. 3 shooting in El Paso was at the top of O'Rourke's remarks as he addressed the crowd.  

"I am so proud of you for standing up and standing together," O'Rourke said. "And standing against that fear that Donald Trump ... is trying to use against us," O'Rourke said. "That fear that he directed and drove down to El Paso, Texas." 

O'Rourke stood amid supporters positioned in the orchestra pit below the stage, with people surrounding him. 

"We cannot sit idly by and in our silence be complicit in the violence and the terror and the racism that exists in this country at unprecedented levels in our lifetimes," O'Rourke said. 

"Together we stand together and we stand against fear," O'Rourke said. 

During his approximately half-hour speech, O'Rourke maintained that Texas can turn blue. 

"You ensure that the 38 electoral college votes in here in Texas can be won and can put Donald Trump away forever," O'Rourke said, met by cheers and the chanting of "Beto."

Speakers, Senate candidates take the stage 

Democratic Senate candidates challenging incumbent Ted Cruz, as well as other speakers, took the stage one-by-one to address rally-goers. The candidates condemned Trump as he hosted a campaign rally just miles away in Dallas. 

Chris Bell, a former Houston City Council member who later served one term in Congress, said he fears Trump being reelected. He said Trump "destroys our country, day by day and tweet by tweet." 

"While we must not cower in fear, I don't think we have to deny our legitimate fears," he said. 

The Democratic candidates also emphasized flipping the state from red to blue. 

"We're gonna win in 2020 because what we're fighting for is much more than partisan values," said Mary Jennings, a former Air Force combat pilot, also running for U.S. Senate.

Cristina Tzintzn Ramirez, a political activist and an organizer running for U.S. Senate, had this message to Trump and his supporters: 

"If they want to cling to the past, they can have it, but the future will belong to us," Tzintzn Ramirez said. 

The 'Rally Against Fear' begins

Crowd members cheered as a Rally Against Fear backdrop dropped down into the background of the stage at the theater, which seats 6,350. Much of the theater was filled for the event. 

After a couple of speakers, including Dallas County Judge Clay Jenkins, one of the night's musical acts, began their performances. Some members of the crowd stood in the orchestra pit to get a closer look. 

A couple of people took photos and recorded video as they watched. 

Line grows outside

By about 5:30, a half hour before doors opened for members of the public, the line to get in the theater was wrapped around the side of the building. People stood and waited to get into the event. As they did, some took photos with a person wearing an inflatable crybaby Trump costume.

Among the those waiting were high school students Olivia Zelling, Emily Kobes and Riley Turner, accompanied by the parents of one of the girls. Zelling, who is 17, got her voter registration card in the mail.

“I’m so excited,” she said. Zelling said she’s a liberal in a “very red state” who hopes to help turn it blue in 2020.”

“With Trump being down the road, it’s so important to show our support with a candidate that’s actually good,” Zelling said.

“Trump’s not presidential in any way,” she latter added. Zelling's two friends nodded occasionally as she spoke.

Kobes,18, said there needs to be someone to stand up to Trump. O’Rourke being a Texan is also a plus, she added.

Turner, 17, said it’s especially important to have someone stand up for immigrants and sensible gun control. Turner, who’s Chilean, comes from a family of Latin American immigrants and said as a high schooler she’s constantly fearful of a school shooting.

“Under Trump that fear has kind of increased,” she said.

Ahead of the rally 

By about 4 p.m., O'Rourke supporters were beginning to arrive at the Grand Prairie theater for the counter-rally. Among the early attendees was Margarita Lopez, who now lives in Grapevine, but previously lived in El Paso for about 17 years where she worked as a teacher.

“I come here because I’m an optimistic person,” Lopez, a 62-year-old retired teacher, said. “I believe in Beto’s message of unity and love and having differences but being able to settle them in a civil manner.”

Lopez said she campaigned for O’Rourke during his senate run against Sen. Ted Cruz, but that this is her first event.

Near her stood Jack Mullins, 66, and Sherry Mullins, 69, who said they’ve also supported O’Rourke since his senate bid. If O’Rourke hadn’t hosted the counter rally, Sherry Mullins said the couple would have been out by the American Airlines Center protesting.

“This just gives us a safer place to be,” she said with a laugh. “It had to be done.”

Jack Mullins said it was important they protest in some shape or form because there “needs to be a presence that is reasonable and rational.”

“And stands up to the rhetoric and the … bullying from the other,” he added.

On the side of the building, Roberto Marquez, who goes by the artist name Robenz, painted a canvas fastened to a red white and blue banner in protest of Trump’s language about immigrants.

“In the beginning when he took office, I thought he was going to criticize us but then slow down,” he said. “It looks like it hasn’t stopped. … I figured for me it was time to do something about it.”

Marquez said he wanted to bring the piece of art inside the building, but that building regulations didn’t permit it.

This is a developing story. Check back for updates. 

Trump in Texas: Live coverage and updates from his Dallas rally

Eleanor Dearman covers the Texas Capitol and politics for the USA TODAY Network Austin Bureau and the El Paso Times. She may be reached at 361-244-0047; edearman@elpasotimes.com; @EllyDearman on Twitter.