Trump Seaside Heights Rally Details Revealed

SEASIDE HEIGHTS, NJ — Details on the site of Saturday's Seaside Heights rally in support of President Donald Trump have been revealed.

Marchers participating in the "Make America Great Again March" will start at Franklin Avenue and walk north to Grant Avenue, Seaside Heights Borough Administrator Christopher Vaz confirmed. The march is scheduled for 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.

Make America Great Again marches are scheduled across the country on Saturday, with the goal of showing support for Trump, Vice President Mike Pence, the military and first responders, according to the national organizing group's Facebook page.

Organizers of the Seaside Heights march, the only one listed for New Jersey, have kept the route secret even among its supporters, expressing concerns that anti-Trump protesters may disrupt the event or attack those who support the president. According to a report in the Asbury Park Press, there will be officers from the Ocean County Sheriff's Department, the New Jersey State Police and police officers from surrounding towns will be assisting Seaside Heights police on Saturday, Police Chief Thomas Boyd told the paper.

The group is gathering at Franklin Avenue in the vicinity of the stage, Vaz said.

"The organization was advised that they cannot march/walk beyond Grant Avenue," because of private property implications, Vaz said. He said it wasn't clear whether the group would be marching up to Grant or marching up and back.

The group says on its Facebook event page that gubernatorial candidate Steven Rogers is expected to be there; Vaz said they group told him at least one other candidate in the governor's race will be there and a state senator will be there, but he did not have details. The group has speakers planned as well.

Mayor Anthony Vaz initially denied the request for the march and the organization to hold the event at a location other than Seaside Heights, Christopher Vaz said. MagaMarch representatives declined to consider an alternate location, declaring that the event is protected by the principles of free speech and freedom of assembly, he said.

“After the borough attorney reviewed pertinent constitutional law requirements, the governing body was advised that denying the application could potentially result in litigation," Christopher Vaz said Monday.

"Despite our concerns, Seaside Heights is committed to making sure the people who turn out for the organization’s event are able to safely exercise their right to freely assembly, while ensuring that the west side of the boardwalk will be maintained as a clear passageway for visitors who are not particularly interested in the organization’s message," Christopher Vaz said. "We didn’t ask for this, but we will get through it."

The application was approved with certain conditions including:

• Marchers/rally participants must stay on the east side of the Boardwalk.
• Event organizers must keep the west side of the Boardwalk open and clear for other Boardwalk visitors/walkers who are not participating in the rally/parade.
• Marchers/rally participants shall not block the entrances/exits of any Boardwalk businesses or facilities and fire hydrants.
• Use of the Franklin Avenue stage is not authorized.
• No vehicles of any kind are permitted on the Boardwalk promenade.

For those attending the march, the Route 37 bridge into Seaside Heights is limited to one lane across the Tunney span of the bridge, as repairs and reconstruction work continues on the Mathis Bridge. The closure is part of an ongoing three-year project to address issues on the aging span.

President Donald J. Trump/Getty Images