‘March4Trump’ rally coming to Hot Springs
Arlington Lawn will be one of 50 nationwide satellite locations piggybacking on the “March4Trump” rally in Washington, D.C., today.
Joyce Shelor, organizer of the Hot Springs event, said today’s rally is in response to recent demonstrations espousing opposition to President Donald J. Trump. She said she’s expecting several hundred people to assemble on the Arlington Lawn at 11 a.m. and proceed down Bathhouse Row.
According to the national march’s website and the Republican Party of Arkansas, the Hot Springs gathering is the state’s only scheduled “March4Trump” event.
“We want to show our support in light of all the anti-Trump marches that have been going on across the country,” Shelor said. “We already have over 200 RSVPs on the Facebook page, and way over 400 who are interested in coming. We have people from four hours away that are coming.”
Shelor said local gun range owner and Second Amendment advocate Jan Morgan will address the rally. The National Park Service said the group has a permit to assemble on Arlington Lawn. A gathering of 25 or more people requires one, the NPS said, adding that its law enforcement personnel will be on hand.
“We’re required by federal law to monitor all events,” a spokesperson said.
The Democratic Party of Garland County issued a news release earlier this week to announce it won’t organize any opposition to the rally.
“While we are aware (today’s) pro-Trump event was initially created and promoted by an out of state organizer unaffiliated with our town, out of respect for our friends and neighbors who make up the vibrant heart of our diverse community, the Democratic Party of Garland County has no plans to counter or oppose this rally,” Hayden C. Shamel, party chair, said in the release. “Our party does not condone or support confrontation or violence of any kind and will not engage with any individuals seeking to cause controversy.”
Shamel told The Sentinel-Record she issued the release in response to inquiries about the Garland County Demo- crats’ potential response to today’s event.
“We were contacted by numerous individuals about the rally, asking if we planned to organize opposition,” she said. “We would never oppose any group’s right to peacefully assemble. We look forward to a peaceful demonstration of support for the president. It’s part of the political process, and part of who we are as a country.”