Venues cancel GOP lawmakers’ rally

LOS ANGELES — After three venues canceled Republican Reps. Matt Gaetz and Marjorie Taylor Greene’s America First rally amid significant public outcry, the lawmakers hosted a protest in Riverside on Saturday evening instead.

In a video posted to Twitter, Gaetz called on all California “patriots” to join him and Greene outside Riverside City Hall for a “peaceful protest against communism.” A group of loyalists joined them there.

“These folks they tried to cancel our venues, but they can never cancel our patriotism or our American spirit,” Gaetz said in a video filmed at the gathering.

The abrupt change occurred hours after the Anaheim Event Center backed out of allowing the lawmakers to use the venue, a decision made after city officials shared concerns about other events limiting police resources for the rally.

The lastminute cancellation was the latest in a series of hiccups for the controversial GOP lawmakers in their attempts to get a fundraising event off the ground in Southern California.

The America First rally was first set for Pacific Hills Banquet & Event Center in Laguna Hills. The venue’s manager told the Orange County Register it canceled after learning Gaetz and Greene would be speaking.

By Thursday, the rally was moved to the Riverside Convention Center. Many residents condemned the event and several groups planned to protest. By late Friday, that venue canceled as well. Organizers then announced the event would move to the Anaheim Event Center. Dozens of residents contacted the city to decry the event.