BAY HARBOR ISLANDS, FLA. (WSVN) - A flotilla of boaters have gathered on the waters of Biscayne Bay in anticipation of President Donald Trump and Vice President Mike Pence’s visit to South Florida.
The supporters gathered in more than 30 vessels on Biscayne Bay at around noon on Thursday to participate in what they have dubbed the Miami Patriots Parade.
“I haven’t cast my ballot just yet, but I know who I’m voting for,” a supporter said. “I can promise you that. We’re here to represent our country. We believe in our country, and we believe in keeping jobs here in our country.”
The vessels could be seen waiting for a bridge to open, so they could begin their parade. The boats were dressed in Trump-Pence flags and signs and some had props in the shape of the president’s head.
“We just want everybody to know that there is Black people that support Trump, and Trump is not a racist,” a second supporter said.
Although it’s clear who the parade participants will vote for on Election Day, they still wanted to show support to their preferred candidate.
“We think he’s doing a great job so far, and I think things can only get better with Trump,” a third supporter said.
Initially, organizers wanted to have the parade for the presidential debate, but that event was cancelled amid COVID-19 concerns.
However, they still wanted to move forward with the parade for the president.
“Our First Amendment gives us the right to support who we want, how we want, and during COVID, when we couldn’t do the rallies, this was a great way to spark enthusiasm, and the silent majority is not going to be silent any longer,” Carlos Gavidia, the flotilla’s creator, said.
7Skyforce captured the flotilla of vessels out on the water following each other starting south of the Broad Causeway Bridge. They then made a loop and passed landmarks, such as the AmericanAirlines Arena and the Perez Art Museum, where the president will participate in an NBC Town Hall at 8 p.m.
Along the flotilla’s route, the opposition placed an electric billboard with the words, “Trump lied, more than 215,000 died,” referring to the number of people who have died from COVID-19 in the U.S.
Despite the signs, supporters and the Trump family boat made its way through the crowd, handing out hats and thanking everyone for their dedication.
Another boat parade is scheduled to be held over the weekend in Jupiter, Florida, and they expect more than 2,000 boats to take part.
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