'Trumpalooza 3' Planned Despite Port Jefferson Village's Concern

PORT JEFFERSON, NY — "Trumpalooza 3," another car parade in support of President Donald Trump, is scheduled to drive through stretches of Suffolk County on Saturday despite concerns raised by Port Jefferson Village Mayor Margot Garant.

The caravan was organized by the pro-Trump Setauket Patriots group and is scheduled to roll out from the Port Jefferson LIRR Station at 11 a.m., according to James Robitsek, founder of the group. The parade will travel through Port Jefferson Village, Setauket, Stony Brook, St. James, Nesconset, Lake Grove, Centereach, Selden, Coram, Port Jefferson Station and back through the village.

The Setauket Patriots led a similar car parade through the village Oct. 17, during which accusations of gay and racial slurs hurled by Trump supporters in Port Jefferson were made. Suffolk police did not receive any reports of the allegations. Three people were charged with disorderly conduct after police said they blocked the caravan in Setauket.

"The Village is aware that the 'Setauket Patriots' group plans to parade their vehicles and flags through our Village again this weekend without a permit to do so," Garant wrote in a statement. "Please know that the Village government does not in any way condone lawless or disrespectful behavior within our village, regardless of any content or message that any group may convey."

Robitsek challenged the village's statement, saying the Setauket Patriots don't need a permit to drive through Port Jefferson.

"Port Jeff is full of cops," Robitsek told Patch. "They did a wonderful job [Oct. 17], and there were no altercations whatsoever. We actually had a large crowd of Trump people in the Village as the parade was going by."

The village does not have authority to stop vehicles or issue citations, Garant said. Village officials are coordinating with the Suffolk County Police Department and requested that officers enforce traffic laws, as well as the state guidelines on social distancing and mask orders.

Village code enforcement officers will monitor noise levels and make sure people are a safe distance away from vehicles. Anyone who violates cillage code will be cited, Garant said.

Suffolk police will also be in the village throughout the day, according to Garant.

"We expect that they will take any and all enforcement actions as they see necessary," the mayor said. "The Village government shares your concern about these events and wants you to know that we are working with all appropriate authorities and doing what we can to return to the quality of life that we are used to in our Village."

The Suffolk County Police Department Sixth Precinct confirmed it's aware of the parade.

"Officers will be assigned to monitor the event in an effort to keep residents safe," police said.

Robitsek instructed rally participants to drive no faster than 20 mph and keep the caravan together. He asked that drivers not cover their license plates and follow social distancing guidelines.

Robitsek said he organized the parade to bring awareness ahead of the Nov. 3 general election.

"It's one of the most important elections of our lifetime," he said. "The area is known to be a Democratic area in the north shore, along with Setauket, Stony Brook, St. James. We just wanted to hit it one more time to get the word out and get the vote out."