- September 7, 2024
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Flagler County Republican organizations held a rally on July 14 to support President Donald Trump. Photo courtesy of Observer staff
Local election candidates Ty Miller and Darryl Boyer at a rally supporting Donald Trump. Photo courtesy of Observer staff
Flagler residents turned up at several rallies on July 13 to support former President Donald Trump. Photo by Observer staff
A little girl waves a Trump flag at a rally. Photo by Observer staff
Flagler County residents at a rally for former President Donald Trump. Photo by Observer staff
Flagler County residents turned up at several rallies in Palm Coast to support former President Donald Trump after he survived an attempted assassination attempt on Saturday, July 13.
At least two of the rallies were held on July 14 at the Matanzas Bridge over Interstate 95 and at the intersection of Palm Coast Parkway and Old Kings Road, according to social media posts from the Flagler Trump Club and the Flagler Republican Executive Committee. In an interview with the Observer ahead of the rallies, Ed Danko, Palm Coast’s vice mayor and the Flagler Trump Club’s media representative, said that the rallies were meant to show Flagler County’s support of Trump.
"It is going to take a lot more than this to stop President Trump from returning to the White House," Danko said.
Trump was hosting his own rally for his presidential campaign in Butler, Pennsylvania on July 13 when he was injured. According to an AP News article that covered the shooting, the shooting was an attempted assassination of the former president and the Federal Bureau of Investigation is leading the investigation.
People at the rally heard several gunshots and Trump was seen with an injury to his ear, the article said. Two people — the shooter and one rally attendee — were killed and two other rally attendees were critically injured, the article said.
The shooter — 20-year-old Thomas Matthew Crooks of Bethel Park, Pennsylvania — used an AR-style rifle, that was legally owned by Crooks’ father, to shoot from the roof of a building near the rally, the article said.
After being grazed by the bullet, video of the rally shows Trump standing up, pumping his fist and shouting “fight, fight, fight” to the crowd as he is escorted off stage.
Marie Summers, who attended the Matanzas Bridge rally said she attended the rally because its important people stand up for their liberties and the constitutional republic. Summers said she holds the media and the Biden administration, among other entities, responsible for the political climate’s current level of vitriol.
Several other local officials and candidates also showed up to support Trump and his message to keep fighting.
“We’re here to do what Trump said,” Palm Coast City Council candidate Ty Miller said. “To show our support for him and continue to fight.”
Darryl Boyer, who is campaigning for Rep. Paul Renner's seat in the Florida House of Representatives, said violence was never the answer.
“What happened yesterday is a travesty,” Boyer said. “We must come together as one nation … and keep fighting the American fight.”
Jarleene Almenas and JT Merriam contributed to this story.