Villagers are furious that Jan. 6 rioters will be welcomed at a sold-out event in Florida’s Friendliest Hometown.
A standing-room only crowd packed the Community Development District 10 Board of Supervisors meeting Thursday afternoon at SeaBreeze Recreation Center.
They are enraged that some of the people convicted in the Jan. 6 uprising, pardoned by President Trump, will be appearing Feb. 28 at Rohan Recreation Center at an event hosted by the Villages MAGA Club.
Residents pointed out that the event will be held at Rohan Recreation Center, which is located in CDD 10, where they also reside.
The CDD 10 residents went to the podium to say they are “outraged” and “embarrassed” that the Jan. 6 rioters are being welcomed and will likely profit from their appearance in The Villages.
CDD 10 officials said they do not have authority over the Recreation Department, which maintains that the MAGA club has followed the room reservation policy and there is no issue with the guest appearance scheduled by that group.
Residents complained that they have contacted John Rohan, director of the Recreation Department, but they all got the same canned response. They said their amenity fees pay for the recreation centers and they should have some say over what happens in them.
Frustration boiled over in the CDD 10 meeting, as residents complained they have been getting the run-around and no one is listening to their concerns.
One resident stood up and began yelling at the CDD 10 board.
“Aren’t you outraged? You are insiders! You know how the system works,” he shouted.
Michael Kornfeld, who lives in the Village of Osceola Hills, which is not far from the Rohan Recreation Center, said residents have been left with no options other than protesting in large numbers at the MAGA-sponsored event with the Jan. 6 rioters.
“It is going to be a big, big crowd protesting,” he said.
Residents also expressed concern for the law enforcement officers who will likely be on hand to provide security at the event. They said that the Jan. 6 rioters have shown they have “no respect” for law enforcement.