Hundreds expected at `Make America Great Again' rally

By Tessa Roy
Posted 3/21/17

By TESSA ROY Supporters of President Donald Trump are set to partake in Make America Great Again March and Rally" events across the country on March 25. Rhode Island has one of its own taking place in Providence. Supporters will begin assembling around"

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Hundreds expected at `Make America Great Again' rally

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Supporters of President Donald Trump are set to partake in “Make America Great Again March and Rally” events across the country on March 25. Rhode Island has one of its own taking place in Providence.

Supporters will begin assembling around 10:30 a.m., then kick off the event around 11 a.m. They will march from Providence City Hall and make their way to the steps of the State House. John DePetro of The John DePetro Show will be the rally’s keynote speaker.

“There will be several speakers, patriotic music, and an opportunity for real Americans to celebrate this incredible time in American history,” reads a page about the event on DePetro’s website. “This will be an opportunity for the people of Rhode Island to rally together and send a message that they support President Trump, and do not support Governor Raimondo, Mayor Elorza, and reject their failed policies.”

North Kingstown Councilwoman and former State Representative Doreen Costa is the organizer for the Rhode Island rally. She said on Monday that so far, 300-400 people have RSVPed to show their support for President Trump at the rally. Part of the reason these rallies are happening nationally is the many anti-Trump protests that have already occurred despite his only 61 days in office, she said. She will be “shocked” if there are no counter protests on Saturday.

“He’s our president whether you voted for him or not… I didn’t vote for Barack Obama but he was still my president,” she said.

A gospel quartet and an opera singer will be on hand to provide patriotic music, small American flags will be handed out, and Bikers for Trump should make an appearance, Costa said. She added that state Republican leaders including Party Chairman Brandon Bell, National Committeewoman Lee Ann Sennick, and Former State Representative and Trump Rhode Island Campaign Chair Joe Trillo will make remarks at the event (Costa will say a few words herself). She also noted that Providence Police would be on hand for security purposes.

Trillo said he hopes for a good turnout. People have been calling and asking for signs, he said, so he thinks the rally will be successful.

“Liberals in this country are not happy with the conservative agenda that the people elected to happen. They’re doing everything they can to create obstruction for this president,” he said. He thought it “ridiculous” that local federal courts in states were blocking some of Trump’s executive orders, and thinks the president will win should the cases reach the Supreme Court.

Trillo said Saturday’s rally would be peaceful, though he too expects counter protesters.

“I don’t think they’re very respectful people,” he said. “It’s one thing to protest, it’s another thing to protest and disrupt… We don’t do that to them.”

Asked if he thought crowds for the Make America Great Again March and Rally would rival those of January’s Women’s March (thousands attended the Women’s March in Providence), Trillo said he wasn’t sure. The Women’s March had much more publicity, so it’s hard to tell, he said.

“Trump supporters are different. We’re more just trying to live our own lives and not in a world of protests and basically discontent with everything,” he said. “Even when we lose, we lose with dignity.”

Ann Gooding, Communications Director for the Rhode Island Democratic Party, said the party is not planning to counter protest. However, she said the party would have a table for voter registration and education at a women's rally happening on the same day at Roger Williams Memorial Park. That rally is hosted by the same organization that put on the Million Women’s March, Gooding said.

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  • Justanidiot

    yea, let's make amurika grape again. take back those voting rights of the sixties, bring back jim crow. send the suffragettes backto the kitchen and take their shoes. the italians can go back home and the irish need not apply. cathlics and jews? puhleze

    we need to bring back property ownership as a need for voting. this is wat are founding fathers intended. al don'Ald is going to MAGA

    Thursday, March 23, 2017 Report this