GREENFIELD — Supporters of President Donald Trump gathered on the Greenfield Common Friday afternoon, holding signs in support of their candidate for re-election.
“This is a demonstration of the commitment of Republicans, and Independents in our community who are leaning toward the president,” said Lew Metaxas, vice chair of the Greenfield Republican Town Committee, which helped to organize the rally.
Friday’s rally kicked off the group’s “Columbus Day holiday weekend blitz” through the Pioneer Valley. The group plans to be in South Deerfield at the intersection by Yankee Candle on Saturday.
“I’m absolutely thrilled, personally, that people are showing up here … in the heart of downtown Greenfield,” Metaxas said. “It shows we really are a diverse and tolerant community, and I hope that continues.”
Co-hosting the holiday weekend rallies is Pioneer Valley Massachusetts for Trump 2020, which hosted a rally on the Mohawk Trail in Greenfield in September.
“We support the president,” said Chris Ryan, founder of Pioneer Valley Massachusetts for Trump 2020. “We support the wall because it’s cutting down illegal immigration and drugs flowing into the country. … We support energy independence; we support more conservative judges in the federal judiciary; we support the peace deals with Israel and the destruction of ISIS — the total destruction of ISIS — and many other things.”
Ryan said he is pleased with the work Trump has done during his four years of office.
“He’s probably one of the best presidents we’ve had this century, maybe even the best president we’ve had this century,” he said. “They throw everything at him, and it doesn’t work.”
Metaxas said he and other supporters believe that prior to the shutdown caused by the pandemic, the economy had been “the greatest in history” under Trump’s leadership.
Both Metaxas and Ryan, who hope to see Trump re-elected for another term come November, said they are pleased with the president’s campaign efforts thus far, as well as his performance at the first debate.
“I’m still hopeful for a second debate and a third debate,” Metaxas said. “I think it’s incredibly important for the American people to really listen to the full explanation of the issue and a discussion of the issues. I thought the Pence/Harris debate was wonderful in that regard.”
Citing Telemundo and C-SPAN poll results, Ryan said Trump won the Sept. 29 debate between Trump and former Vice President Joe Biden, and that he didn’t take issue with president’s frequent interruption of the other candidate.
“There were a couple of times when (Joe Biden) got a tough question — the president probably should have stayed back and let him answer it,” Ryan added.
Metaxas said he “reluctantly” agrees with the president’s rejection of a virtual debate format.
“I would prefer an in-person debate,” he said. “I think if there’s any concern … I would only do it if the president were clear medically, and if appropriate guidelines were being followed.”
He said he thinks there is plenty of time for the federal Commission on Presidential Debates to arrange for the debates to be pushed back.
“I think both sides would want that, to some degree,” Metaxas said.
Metaxas said he was excited by the turnout on Friday. As of 2:30 p.m., a half an hour into the rally, roughly 30 people stood on common with signs in support of Trump.
“For far too long in this community, people who either identify as Republicans, or Independents who lean … more conservative, have not had, or have felt troubled by, expressing their true opinions,” he said. “I think … this shows those days are over, and they can come and hold any kind of demonstration on any topic.”
Mary Byrne can be reached at mbyrne@recorder.com or 413-930-4429. Twitter: @MaryEByrne