Members of Villagers for Trump are encouraging those who want to participate in a golf cart rally to join them Monday afternoon in Lake Sumter Landing – where a special guest will be on hand.
The event, titled “Stop Socialism/Choose Freedom,” kicks off at 5 p.m. from the Barnes and Noble parking lot. Those participating are encouraged to wear red, white and blue or “Trump gear.” And they are being asked to decorate their golf carts and arrive at the popular bookstore’s parking lot by 4 p.m.
The rally, one of many put on by the fast-growing organization in the past year, will include an appearance by the 50-foot-long Trump Unity Bridge. Owner Robert Cortis toured the 48 contiguous states in 2016 and gave out more than 100,000 bumper stickers. This year alone, he has made 140 stops across the country and will be handing out Trump 2020 bumper stickers and flags to those attending the rally.
An international film crew also is expected to cover the rally, as it is scheduled to be included in a European television series on U.S. retirement communities. And Monday’s event is one of 360 parades being put on across the country in conjunction with Tea Party Patriot group, said Sue Cianci, co-chair of the Villagers for Trump Action Committee.
Villagers for Trump, which was formed by Founder David Gee a little over a year ago and already boasts more than 1,000 members, has held several successful golf cart rallies. Those include:
- Members made their thoughts known on immigration in January when they took their “Build the Wall” message to the streets of Lake Sumter Landing and Spanish Springs.
- This past October, the “Red Wave” roared to life as Villagers for Trump members touted the slate of GOP candidates running for office with a rally that featured 383 golf carts and about 800 people.
- A “Red Wave” parade also was held in August to show support for President Trump and then-GOP candidates Congressman Ron DeSantis (governor), Ashley Moody (attorney general) and Rick Scott (U.S. Senate).
- Sixty golf carts and 120 participants took to the streets of Florida’s Friendliest Hometown this past March in a parade that included plenty of flag waving and horn honking.
Before the official formation of Villagers For Trump, conservative Villagers – many of whom now belong to the organization – also staged several golf cart rallies. Those included:
- An October 2016 event to show support for then-presidential hopeful Donald Trump and mock his opponent, Democrat Hillary Clinton.
- Chanting “Lock her up!” and honking their horns, about 200 golf carts made their way through The Villages in early October 2016 to whip up support for Trump.
- Villagers manned their golf carts for a pro-Trump parade in March 2016 that featured Cianci revving up the crowd with a bullhorn.
- In February 2016, on the eve of the New Hampshire primary, Trump supporters sporting “Make America Great Again” signs made their thoughts known loud and clear as they paraded through town squares at Lake Sumter Landing and Spanish Springs.
Villagers for Trump Action Committee Co-Chair Sue Cianci, along with fellow Co-Chair Donna Hoak, organized this past January’s ‘Build The Wall’ golf cart rally.
Villagers for Trump also has a history of bringing in high profile speakers at its monthly meetings. Some of those have included indicted former Trump adviser Roger Stone; local World War II veteran Irving Locker, who was featured in President’s Trump’s January State of the Union address; Florida State Sen. Dennis Baxley; former campaign managers and authors Corey R. Lewandowski and David N. Bossie; and DeSantis, who visited during his campaign on the eve of a nationally televised rally with Trump in Tampa.
In addition, Villagers for Trump Vice President Jim Volpe, visited with the president at Trump International Golf Club in West Palm Beach in November and showed him the program from the group’s October Trump Day Dinner. And in January, Gee and his wife, Lynette, attended the Governor’s Ball in Tallahassee and posed for a photograph with District 33 State Rep. Brett Hage and his wife, Candice.
