Hundreds support President Trump at ‘Stop the Steal’ rally in Delray Beach

More than 200 supporters of President Trump were not conceding defeat to Joe Biden during a “Stop the Steal” rally at the Delray Beach Pavilion, midday Saturday.

The throng of cheering, flag-waving, banner-toting, horn-honking fans denounced Democrats, far-left liberals, and ballot counters of all persuasions before marching west along Atlantic Avenue.

Among those in attendance for the two-hour rally and parade was conservative consultant, lobbyist, and convicted felon Roger Stone who was greeted with chants of, “Roger Stone did nothing wrong.”

Stone gave his audience what it wanted to hear. He declared Trump will be re-elected once the courts and Electoral College have had their say.

“[There is] overwhelming and compelling evidence of voter fraud,” he said.

Stone then listed the ways voter fraud can be committed, to a chorus of supportive boos.

Film producer Lori Gregory took the stage to say democracy is being threatened through pandemic fear-mongering.

“They’re [ab]using your civil rights and health freedom by forcing you [to wear] a mask for something that has a 99.9% survival rate,” she said.

An estimated 99% of those in attendance were not wearing face masks as a precaution against contracting or spreading COVID-19.

Arturo Blanco, 57, of Boca Raton, was wearing a face mask and he came out to support the president.

“I think we’re realists [and] I think it’s an uphill battle but we are law-and-order people and we’ll see what the courts decide,” he said. “I’m cautiously optimistic.”

Aside from some thumbs-down gestures from passing motorists and snickering from patrons at the BurgerFI and Luna Rosa restaurants across State Road A1A from the rally, there was Luis Garcia.

The 54-year-old retired Boynton Beach firefighter stood alone on the sidewalk, away from the crowd, wearing his fire helmet, boots and two face masks, holding a Biden-Harris sign, attracting catcalls and cursing.

“[Trump supporters] have increased the vigorousness of their assaults on regular people for the last four years and now there are very few people willing to speak out,” he said. “It’s heartbreaking. Somebody has to stand up.”

The Delray Beach event coincided with the Million MAGA March in Washington D.C. on Saturday.

Wayne K. Roustan can be reached at wkroustan@sunsentinel.com or 561-379-6119 or on Twitter @WayneRoustan

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