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Third California Venue Gives Gaetz And MTG Rally The Boot Just Hours Before It's Supposed To Start

Third California Venue Gives Gaetz And MTG Rally The Boot Just Hours Before It's Supposed To Start
Megan Varner/Getty Images
John Curtis
By John CurtisJul 19, 2021
John Curtis
A novelist, picture book writer and native New Yorker, John is a graduate of Syracuse University and the children's media graduate program at Centennial College. When not staring at his computer monitor, you'll most likely find John sipping tea watching British comedies, or in the kitchen, taking a stab at the technical challenge on the most recent episode of 'The Great British Baking Show'.
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The third time was not the charm for Republican Representatives Matt Gaetz of Florida and Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia on Saturday, July 17.

The outspoken right-wing, conspiracy theory promoting Representatives were scheduled to host another "America First" Rally over the weekend—this time in southern California.

The rally was first scheduled to take place at the Pacific Hills Banquet and Event Center in Laguna Hills, but when details of the event became clearer, the venue cancelled the booking.

Javad Mirtavoosi, manager of the event space, made his decision to cancel no secret to the The Orange County Register.

"As soon as we found out who the speakers were, we immediately cancelled it."
"We just want to stay clear of that."

The event was then booked at the Riverside Convention Center, but after outspoken dissent from residents, Raincross Hospitality group, who manages the city-owned venue, also cancelled the event.

In the statement, Riverside Mayor Patricia Lock Dawson expressed her relief at the cancellation.

"This was a divisive issue in our community, and I'm glad it has been resolved."
"I commend Raincross Hospitality Corp for this decision."

Gaetz and Greene remained unfazed, however, by the twin cancellations.

Greene took to Twitter vowing the event would still take place.

Greene went on to say the "radical left" was trying to cancel the rally and Black Lives Matter protestors and antifa used threats to bully the venue into cancelling.

As usual, Greene provided no proof to back her claims.

Gaetz also took to Twitter, hinting he and Greene might sue the city of Riverside following the cancellation.

Both Gaetz's and Greene's Tweets were greeted with apathy and amusement, as well as a fair amount of disdain.







It did look like Greene would make good on her promise and the rally would indeed take place, this time at the Anaheim Event center.

But mere hours before the rally was to take place, the city of Anaheim cancelled the event.

"Public safety concerns" were the primary reason given for the cancellation in a statement released on the City of Anaheim Twitter page.

While City of Anaheim spokesperson Mike Lyster did not elaborate on what he meant by "safety concerns", he offered a less than subtle suggestion the two right-wing representatives were not welcome in their city.


"As a city, we respect free speech but also have a dute to call out speech that does not reflect our city and its values."



In a last ditch effort to make the event happen, Gaetz tweeted a video of himself, alone, in front of Riverside City Hall urging supporters to join him in a "peaceful protest against communism."

But what seemed like a last ditch effort was greeted with considerable ridicule.



The rotating door of venues brought to mind Rudy Giuliani's memorable press conference outside Four Seasons Total Landscaping in the fall of 2020.

Many suggested the venue as a possible option for the conservative duo, when no venue seemed willing to take them on.




The Rally did end up happening outside Riverside City Hall, with an impassioned Gaetz telling the crowd.

"They may try to cancel us online, they may try to pursue us in real life, they will try to shut down our venue, but we will take this fight to them in the courts, in the houses of Congress and if necessary, in the streets."

One can only wonder if they'll be luckier booking streets than venues.

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