Supporters of former President Donald Trump gather Saturday morning at the Reno Business Park on Ohio 7 for a parade in support of the presumptive 2024 Republican presidential nominee. (Photo by Evan Bevins)
RENO — More than 100 cars and trucks paraded around the Mid-Ohio Valley Saturday to show their support for former President and 2024 contender Donald Trump.
Roger Conley, a former member of the West Virginia House of Delegates, said the Stand with President Trump or Trump Train parade was originally scheduled in anticipation of Trump’s July 11 sentencing on 34 felony counts of falsifying business records related to what prosecutors say was an attempt to cover up a $130,000 hush money payment to porn actor Stormy Daniels prior to the 2016 presidential election. Daniels claimed she had a sexual encounter with Trump in 2006; Trump denies it happened.
“Our plan was to … kind of highlight the two-tiered justice system,” Conley said.
The sentencing was recently pushed back until at least Sept. 18 as New York Judge Juan M. Merchan considers what impact the Supreme Court’s recent ruling on presidential immunity may have on the case.
But the parade, organized with Conley’s help by the Washington and Wood County chapters of MOVCAC (Motivate-Organize-Volunteer Citizen Action Coalition), went on Saturday, rolling out from the Reno Business Park on Ohio 7 and traveling through Marietta, Williamstown, Vienna, Parkersburg and Belpre.
Supporters of former President Donald Trump drive through Williamstown Saturday in a parade organized by the Wood and Washington County chapters of MOVCAC (Motivate-Organize-Volunteer Citizen Action Coalition) that traveled from Reno to Parkersburg and back to Marietta in support of the 2024 presumptive Republican presidential nominee. (Photo by Evan Bevins)
Conley called the event a success, estimating about 150 vehicles participated. He thanked law enforcement agencies on both sides of the Ohio River for their assistance with traffic.
Elizabeth resident Pierce Martin and his wife, Karen, joined the procession in their 1997 Mazda Miata convertible.
“I tell everybody you don’t get in it, you put it on,” Pierce Martin said with a laugh.
He said he participated to oppose “lawfare” against Trump and show his support for the candidate in November’s election.
“I think we need to get rid of (President Joe) Biden or we’re in trouble,” Martin said.
Supporters of former President Donald Trump roll onto the Belpre Bridge in downtown Parkersburg during Saturday’s Trump Train parade that traveled between Washington and Wood counties and back. (Photo by Evan Bevins)
Marietta resident Missy Long participated in the previous Trump parade organized by MOVCAC, during the 2020 presidential campaign.
“It’s a chance to get together with other like-minded people,” she said.
That included Parkersburg resident Shannon Short and his mother, Paula Johnson, who participated in a pickup truck decked out with American and “Don’t Tread On Me” flags.
“I support Trump, I support the Valley, and we’re hoping for change this year,” Short said.
Evan Bevins can be reached at ebevins@newsandsentinel.com.
Supporters of former President Donald Trump roll down Fifth Street in downtown Parkersburg during Saturday’s Trump Train parade that traveled between Washington and Wood counties and back. (Photo by Evan Bevins)
Elizabeth resident Karen Martin waves as her husband Pierce Martin drives their car through Williamstown in Saturday’s Trump Train parade that traveled between Washington and Wood counties and back Saturday. (Photo by Evan Bevins)
