Do you remember Nov. 6 when The Globe published a large cut-out photo of President Donald Trump on the front cover? 

It was taken at Trump’s Butler return rally moments before Photo Editor Caleb McCartney and I were kicked out. After pushing ourselves into the event through general admission, we waited eight hours in the heat for him to appear. Yet the moment he came out, we let our guard down. Just 40 feet away from Trump, I asked McCartney to balance his camera on my head so the shot wasn’t shaky.

Professional cameras at rallies are considered contraband unless that person is a part of the accredited press. McCartney took about 10 frames before a man from the private security detail came over and asked us where our accredited press passes were.

“We don’t have any,” I said while McCartney was frozen, out of fear. Even though only one of us had the camera, the man told us we both had to leave. 

“You’re not allowed to document this anymore,” he said.

Later, the two of us were certain that, as we were being escorted out, Trump spoke about how Democrats wanted to take away the American people’s freedom of speech. 

I share this with you all as that same man was inaugurated Monday as the 47th president of the United States.

The only way The Globe attained photos of republican candidates, like Senator David McCormick, all year was through the return rally event. No other student media organization in the Pittsburgh area or possibly in the country had the opportunity to do this. 

Although McCartney attempted numerous times to attain credentials for events like a Vice President J.D. Vance rally in Erie (and), there was no success. This was the same for The Pitt News and other student media that we met at Democratic rallies in Pittsburgh.

Take away from this what you will. This is not a formal declaration of my or The Globe’s political affiliation or views. But if there was such a large attempt to control what the media says about these rallies, that attempt to control or filter the media will not end.