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by Vincent Osuna
Imperial Valley Press
April 6, 2019
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CALEXICO — All local residents ultimately wanted one thing from the national spotlight which President Donald Trump’s appearance here Friday brought to the Imperial Valley.
Whether it was of criticism or support, Valleyites knew they wanted their voices heard before the 45th president left from his tour of the nearby international border.
Getting the attention of a president —and, even more so, being a part of the first-ever appearance of a sitting president within the city — was too good to pass up, and, in order to make the biggest noise possible, locals took to forming rallies.
Two rallies in particular—the Unity March and Rally at the Grand Plaza Outlets, and the IV Residents for Trump welcoming rally held outside of Naval Air Facility El Centro — seemed to politically divide the Valley in half.
The welcoming rally praised Trump and drew chants of “Trump 2020,” while the Unity March screamed for a call-to-action on local issues they believed the president needs to focus on.
While they may have had conflicting views, organizers of both events emphasized peacefulness and no disturbances could be seen at either locations.
Without wanting to miss a single moment of the experience, both events began at about 8 a.m., which was hours before President Trump’s estimated 11:40 a.m. arrival.
The Unity March began at the First Street parking lot and collectively ended at the Gran Plaza. Once at the Plaza, a circle formed and those interested in sharing their thoughts took turns doing so over a megaphone.
With the attention of the crowd, former Calexico councilwoman Martiza Hurtado thanked the city for issuing the group the only permit to hold the rally legally
During the march, Calexico police officers temporarily blocked off streets, and Calexico Police Department Chief Gonzalo Gerardo even made a brief appearance as a crowd member at the Plaza.
Hurtado further explained that once she first heard of Trump’s arrival on Sunday afternoon, she “jumped on it immediately.”
“I know that I have to listen to this community so we put this group together, this group of really good friends who have done this kind of activism for a while — and we love it,” Hurtado said.
Signs that read “Build Bridges, Not Walls,” “27.5% Unemployment Rate,” and “We Have The Most Polluted River” continued to be waved in hopes that Trump would see it upon his arrival.
IV Residents for Trump gathered at the intersection of Bennett Road and Evan Hewes Highway in anticipation of welcoming President Trump’s motorcade as it came out of NAFEC.
When lifelong El Centro resident AJ Gaddis heard two days ago that the welcoming rally would be gathering down the street from her home on Evan Hewes Highway, she was quick to jump onboard.
“It’s been a long time since one of our presidents took an interest in coming down to the Imperial Valley,” Gaddis said. “So if he’s taking the time to come down here and to take a look at what our issues are and to check out our border — regardless of the affiliation of which party you are — I think we need to respect the president and welcome him to the Imperial Valley.”
The rally was able to give a shouting welcome as the president’s motorcade zoomed past the intersection.
For Gaddis, a native to the Imperial Valley, the nearly three-hour wait was worth it.
“It was generally a good feeling of support and just coming together as Imperial Valley,” the Valley native said. “This county is not taken seriously sometimes in Sacramento. We don’t’ have the population, so we don’t have the vote, so what happens is we get forgotten and we become a dumping ground.”
Gaddis felt the county isn’t taken seriously sometimes in Sacramento due to its relatively small population.
“So for the president to take an interested in the Imperial Valley — I don’t care, it’s like a once in a lifetime event,” the Valley native said.
Gaddis glanced at her three-year-old granddaughter Georgie and smiled.
“This may not happen again for me, but I’m hoping that it will happen again for her,” she said.
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partnering with reality:
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