About 150 vehicles join procession supporting former president
RENO — More than 100 cars and trucks paraded around the Mid-Ohio Valley Saturday to show their support for former President and 2024 contender Donald Trump.
Roger Conley, a former member of the West Virginia House of Delegates, said the Stand with President Trump or Trump Train parade was originally scheduled in anticipation of Trump’s July 11 sentencing on 34 felony counts of falsifying business records related to what prosecutors say was an attempt to cover up a $130,000 hush money payment to porn actor Stormy Daniels prior to the 2016 presidential election. Daniels claimed she had a sexual encounter with Trump in 2006; Trump denies it happened.
“Our plan was to … kind of highlight the two-tiered justice system,” Conley said.
The sentencing was recently pushed back until at least Sept. 18 as New York Judge Juan M. Merchan considers what impact the Supreme Court’s recent ruling on presidential immunity may have on the case.
But the parade, organized with Conley’s help by the Washington and Wood County chapters of MOVCAC (Motivate-Organize-Volunteer Citizen Action Coalition), went ahead on Saturday, rolling out from the Reno Business Park on Ohio 7 and traveling through Marietta, Williamstown, Vienna, Parkersburg and Belpre.
Conley called the event a success, estimating about 150 vehicles participated. He thanked law enforcement agencies on both sides of the Ohio River for their assistance with traffic.
Elizabeth resident Pierce Martin and his wife, Karen, joined the procession in their 1997 Mazda Miata convertible.
“I tell everybody you don’t get in it, you put it on,” Pierce Martin said with a laugh.
He said he participated to oppose “lawfare” against Trump and show his support for the candidate in November’s election.
“I think we need to get rid of (President Joe) Biden or we’re in trouble,” Martin said.
Marietta resident Missy Long participated in the previous Trump parade organized by MOVCAC, during the 2020 presidential campaign.
“It’s a chance to get together with other like-minded people,” she said.
That included Parkersburg resident Shannon Short and his mother, Paula Johnson, who participated in a pickup truck decked out with American and “Don’t Tread On Me” flags.
“I support Trump, I support the Valley, and we’re hoping for change this year,” Short said.
Evan Bevins can be reached at ebevins@newsandsentinel.com.