JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – For the second time in a month, Jacksonville’s waterways were teeming with boats filled with supporters of President Donald Trump — this time to celebrate the president’s birthday.
The rally, dubbed “Trump’s Birthday Boat Rally,” began on Sunday morning. Boaters embarked from Metropolitan Park at 11 a.m. on Sunday and cruised the St. Johns River towards Fleming Island.
“It just blows me away how many people are out here," said supporter Lisa Glennon.
The boat parade, which coincides with Flag Day, was one of several planned throughout Florida, including Miami, Pensacola and Tampa.
“It’s all about patriotism,” organizer Esther Byrd told News4Jax. “We love our country, we get frustrated about the negativity. We do what we can and we wave our flags and sing ‘God Bless America’ together.”
Byrd, who is the wife of State Rep. Cord Byrd, organized the first water rally, which she said exceeded her expectations.
The Republican Party of Duval County tweeted photos of the event saying more than 1,000 boats joined the boat rally.
Over 1,000 boats were in the St. Johns River today to celebrate President @realDonaldTrump’s Birthday! Duval County is TRUMP COUNTRY! #jaxpol #flapol #leadright #BoaterVoters pic.twitter.com/JrQWhRIHJf
— Duval County GOP (@DuvalGOP) June 14, 2020