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U.S. Rep. Bill Johnson joins in “Spirit of America” Trump rally in Boardman
Spirit of America Rally
Gallery
US Rep. Johnson speaks in support of president
By Bruce Walton
BOARDMAN
At the site of the “Spirit of America” rally, U.S. Rep. Bill Johnson of Marietta, R-6th, spoke to an enthusiastic crowd about his support for President Donald Trump and standing in solidarity with their values.
“The strength of our nation is not in our president, it’s not in Congress, it’s not in our nation’s capital – it’s right here in places and people like this,” he told the crowd Saturday. “It’s in the heartbeat in the indomitable spirit of the American people.”
The crowd listened intently to the representative, waving signs, flags and banners praising the president. Starting from noon to 3 p.m., Mahoning County Republicans had the rally in the parking lot of Summitville Tile on Boardman-Canfield Road.
As one of many others organized across the country – including one in Lisbon – the rally attempted to show support for Trump and his campaign to “Make America Great Again.”
Holly Horvath, a volunteer at the Republican headquarters who helped organize the rally, said a majority of passers-by gave positive responses throughout the afternoon.
“We are here to support the president and to let him know that he is loved and supported,” she said.
At almost all times of the rally, the crowd never fell
below the 70 to 80 protesters, with waves of people arriving as fast as those leaving. Horvath said the grand total of supporters reached about 200 toward the end of the event, which served as the first postelection Trump rally where supporters countered what they believe to be the negativity targeting the Trump administration since his inauguration Jan. 20.
Johnson commended Trump’s first 30 days in office, including his executive actions and passing legislation protecting jobs in the coal industry.
He made statements about paid protesters and agitators attempting to garner disingenuous attention as well as some of the public’s mistreatment of the military and Christian values.
Joe LoCicero, 74 of Canfield, said he came to the rally not just to show his support, but to listen to Johnson.
“It seems like all the headlines, even if it’s something good about Trump, the headline seems like its leaning negatively, when I feel like his message is positive,” he said. “So I want to hear it from my representative, unfiltered by [the media].”
Johnson also commended Trump’s address to Congress this week and supported the talking points from the president such as immigration and health care reform as well as improvements in national security and infrastructure.
Johnson told supporters if they witness someone refusing to show patriotism, to pray for them and to stand up and make their voices heard.
“People here believe in his message of unity and hope; of taking off the political glasses and starting to look at one another as Americans first,” Johnson said.
To Trump’s political opponents, Johnson had only one thing to say: “Give him [Trump] a chance.”