Pro-Trump Rallies Planned for Middletown

MIDDLETOWN, NJ - Well, there have been plenty of demonstrations against President Donald Trump. Now, a group of Monmouth County residents say they are planning two pro-Trump rallies next week in Middletown, NJ.

The first pro-Trump rally will be Monday, Feb. 27 from 4 to 6 p.m. at the Shop Rite on Rt. 35 and the second will be next Saturday, March 4 from noon to 2 p.m. again at the Rt. 35 Shop Rite Plaza. These are part of hundreds of other pro-Trump rallies being held across the U.S., which are being called "Spirit of America." A similar pro-Trump rally will be held March 4 in Neshaminy State Park in Bensalem, Pennsylvania. While there are many rallies planned across all 50 states next week (see a full list here), the Middletown two are the only events currently planned for New Jersey.

"I saw that Trump needed us out there to show support since there were groups out there protesting, rioting and showing their deep hatred for Trump and his policies," said Barb Gonzalez, a Middletown resident who is helping to organize the events. "I thought it was time for a few rallies. I was not alone. I think Tea Party-minded people just feel the same things at the same times. One of the people I was in contact with, has a contact within Breitbart. Once it was advertised on Breitbart, it went crazy! I am getting hundreds of emails from people wanting to attend."

Gonzalez was active in the Bayshore Tea Party movement. You can learn more on this Facebook page the group created.

"We are known as 'The Silent Majority' and we usually like to live and let live, expect our representatives to do the right thing and do it within the guidelines of the Constitution," she continued. "But when they don't, or when the people that are trying to do the right things are attacked ... we react. It is especially irritating to see the left turn the term 'illegal alien' to 'immigrant.' No one in the Tea Party is anti-immigrant."

Gonzalez said that while she has no idea how many people will show up Monday, she is expecting about 100 so far, based on all the emails she's received.

"Could be a lot more," she said.

Supporter of Donald Trump at a rally at Veterans Memorial Coliseum at the Arizona State Fairgrounds in Phoenix, Arizona on June 18, 2016. Photo taken by Gage Skidmore/Wikimedia Commons