NEW YORK \u2014 The collapse of a police barrier at a politically charged New York celebrity music show in Central Park sent thousands of spectators fleeing in panic, fearing the noise might have been gunshots.<\/b>
\nNEW YORK \u2014 The collapse of a police barrier at a politically charged New York celebrity music show in Central Park sent thousands of spectators fleeing in panic, fearing the noise might have been gunshots.
About 60,000 people had filled the park\u2019s Great Lawn for Saturday\u2019s eight-hour Global Citizen Festival. They listened to big-name personalities from Democratic New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo and Republican Sen. Jeff Flake to Janet Jackson and John Legend who all urged spectators to get involved in the nation\u2019s troubled politics.
Suddenly, just before 8 p.m., the police barrier that was meant to keep the crowd in check toppled over, releasing a clanging sound that terrified many spectators.
Authorities quickly assured the crowd they were safe, and that no shots had been fired. And Coldplay leader Chris Martin told spectators that \u201cnobody is trying to hurt anyone,\u201d eliciting cheers from the audience. \u201cThere\u2019s no need to run fast. There\u2019s no need to push people out of the way.\u201d
The intense reaction underlined the burning social justice issues that dominated the event, which had started on a warm, sunny afternoon, with long lines forming for access. Also scheduled were Cardi B, The Weeknd and other pop stars.
Hip-hop recording artist Cardi B performs at the 2018 Global Citizen Festival in Central Park on Saturday, Sept. 29,2018, in New York. (Photo by Evan Agostini\/Invision\/AP)
Some speakers asked the audience to call their Congress members to react to this week\u2019s Senate hearings for Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh.
\u201cWe want equal justice and a full investigation for the Supreme Court nominee, not investigations of limited time, not investigations of limited scope,\u201d Cuomo said. \u201cAnd it means before you put a person on the Supreme Court to administer justice, we want to make sure justice is done.\u201d
In a video clip, former first lady Michelle Obama urged people to register to vote in the Nov. 6 midterm elections.
Speaking outside the show, Sen. Christopher Coons, a Delaware Democrat, called Flake \u201cthe real hero\u201d after Friday\u2019s testimony that led the Arizona Republican to demand an FBI investigation into alleged sexual abuse accusations against Kavanaugh.
During a break in the Senate session on Friday, Coons said Saturday in New York, Flake\u2019s \u201cfirst comment to me when we went sort of backstage in the anteroom was, this is tearing this country apart, and I deeply respect Jeff for standing up to a ton of pressure to demand a one-week pause and an expanded FBI background check.\u201d
Legend introduced his new song, \u201cPreach,\u201d whose message he said is that people can\u2019t just preach but must act.
\u201cIn the song, we talk about how frustrating it can be to look at your phone, read the news, see what\u2019s happening,\u201d he told the audience. \u201cIt\u2019s not enough for us to talk about it or tweet about it, we\u2019ve got to do something.\u201d
Jeff Flake, R- Ariz., left, and Sen. Chris Coons, D-Del, stand together as they address festival participants during the 2018 Global Citizen Festival Saturday, Sept. 29,2018, in New York. (AP Photo\/Craig Ruttle)<\/p>\n

\n

Similarity rank: 2.1<\/div>\n

Sentiment rank: -0.7<\/div>\n

<\/div>\n<\/div>\n