The Rio Theatre will broadcast live U.S. election coverage between President Donald J. Trump and former Vice President Joe Biden this evening at 6PM, in an event titled the Ultimate Showcase Showdown. The broadcast will come from CNN. Don’t waste your time drinking alone in your apartment and doom-scrolling on social media, make this a political event. Something you can look forward to– at a safe social distance, of course! Luckily, I can promote this event without fear that an impassioned crowd will degenerate into brawls by the end of it all. I couldn’t say the same if this broadcast took place south of the border. 
Local businesses across major American cities are boarding up businesses, prepared for protests and potentially riots over the election’s outcome. “Civil War” is trending on social media. Deep political divisions and vitriol have always coloured American politics. In undergrad, I remember two first-year students in a history course openly calling for Obama’s death upon his election: “We don’t care who does it. We just want him killed.” These students announced their desires without repercussions from faculty. Rowdy crowds at rodeos burned the first African American president in effigy. Yet I had never heard of people filing for divorce or severing ties with immediate family members over politics. Trump’s presidency has elicited every emotion listed in a writer’s handbook. People feel very strongly about the current state of American affairs, even across Canada, Europe and all over the world.
Visit http://riotheatre.ca/ to purchase tickets and reserve your seat. Doors open at 6:00pm. Don’t forget that mask, and make sure it matches your outfit. Grab an ice-cold beer at the bar; you’ll probably need one. Sorry, young-ins, this is for grownups only. Keep your words and actions respectful; who do you think you are, the president? Remain mindful that due to the influx of absentee and mail-in ballots this year, election results may not be known until the next few days. Stay safe and hold on tight, friends!
#election2020 #uselection #riotheatre #vancouver