An ardent supporter of President Donald Trump marshaled about 70 people Monday for a community cleanup in West Baltimore.
Scott Presler first suggested the cleanup in a Twitter post that has since gone viral. The Pennsylvania man said the effort is not a “pro-Trump rally or an anti-Rep. [Elijah] Cummings” event, referring to the Baltimore congressman who Trump took aim at in tweets and remarks more than a week ago.
In a tweet the day before launching the cleanup effort, he suggested he would “stand in the middle of the city with a sign that asks why democrats choose illegal aliens over black lives.” His visit to Baltimore comes during a slate of his planned Republican activist training sessions in the region.
However, Presler said he was in Baltimore Monday out of a genuine desire to help, not because of his politics.
“This is not political,” he said. “We saw a need in the city, and we wanted to come together.”
The crew @ScottPresler rallied today is working so fast we are having trouble keeping up! pic.twitter.com/5CHa7X3YzT
— Kate Amara (@kateamaraWBAL) August 5, 2019
The post brought people from several surrounding states. More than 230 people signed up to work cleanup shifts. Volunteers were set to work at the site from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.
The group also included Pastor Tony Hill, who leads a west Baltimore congregation.
“It’s people over politics,” Hill said. “Things like this really forge alliances between neighbors. “We have one cause in mind and that’s to clean up Baltimore.”
A pro-#Trump group organized a community clean-up here in West #Baltimore today, but organizer @ScottPresler says this ‘this is not a Trump rally or an anti-Rep. Cummings event,’ rather ‘we saw a need.’ Many are here from several states, plus locals too @wbalradio pic.twitter.com/s7Ybk2aF4u
— Phil Yacuboski (@WBALPhil) August 5, 2019
We found this newspaper while cleaning up trash in West Baltimore.
— #ThePersistence (@ScottPresler) August 5, 2019
It's been 11 years. #AmericansHelpingAmericans pic.twitter.com/rK9fUif0Z2
- Dr E
