NEAR WEST SIDE — A small crowd heckled former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani and MyPillow CEO Mike Lindell Tuesday afternoon as the conservative provocateurs filmed outside the Democratic National Convention in Chicago.
Giuliani and Lindell, flanked by a few aides in Trump swag with selfie sticks, hopped out of a black Dodge SUV to review how the city beefed-up a security wall that some pro-Palestine protesters broke through Monday at Park 578, 1919 W. Maypole Ave.
Giuliani said he came to Chicago to witness “the pure communist convention.”
Lindell plans to shave his iconic mustache Wednesday and “go incognito” inside the convention, he told Block Club Chicago.
The MyPillow creator — who says he’s run out of money amidst orders to turn over documents in a $5 million lawsuit over false claims the 2020 election was rigged in favor of President Joe Biden — is charging $2 for “wall-to-wall coverage” of his time in Chicago through FrankSpeech, a conservative broadcast network.
The duo’s visit to the security fence quickly descended into a shouting match between Lindell and passerby Anthony Arrington, who pulled up on a Divvy e-bike to confront Lindell on his election denialism.
Members of the media quickly left the sparsely-attended first amendment platform set up by the city at the park to watch the confrontation. Near the platform, dozens of police officers on bikes largely outnumbered any speakers and attendees Tuesday.
Arrington, wearing a Kamala Harris shirt, said he’s in town from Iowa to support the vice president’s confirmation atop the Democratic ticket.
“Do you pay by credit card?” Arrington asked Lindell, who said he did. “We can spend all this money, folks, on technology to spend money, but we can’t figure out technology to vote? That’s what I’m hearing.”
Giuliani, 80, was quickly whisked away by aides back to his car as Lindell and Arrington traded barbs for the next ten minutes.
“I’m an ex-crack addict. I’ve spent a lot of time by the projects and stuff,” Lindell said. “I know Chicago.”
Some Chicago police officers gathered around Giuliani to take pictures with the former New York mayor and disbarred Trump attorney, who was charged in May on nine felony counts for trying to overturn Arizona’s 2020 election results.
An extra layer of fencing was added to part of the United Center security perimeter after a small group of protesters broke through existing fencing Monday. Secret Service coordinator Jeff Burnside said “augmentations” were made after the fence was breached.
Riot police were called in and 13 people were arrested on counts ranging from misdemeanor trespassing to a felony aggravated assault on a police officer during protests Monday, Police Supt. Larry Snelling said.
Park 578 has been quiet through Tuesday afternoon aside from lightly attended speeches and TV anchors doing stand-ups near the breached fence.
“You make a commitment to speak here before you see the crowd,” said Sean Dwyer, an “old-school centrist republican” running for 6th District State Representative.
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