TOPLINE
A pro-Trump boat rally that expected to draw in thousands to an Austin lake Saturday ended with several boats sinking, according to the local sheriff’s office, which said it responded to multiple calls of boats in distress that were involved in the rally.
Another Trump boat rally in New York City is pictured here from July 2019.
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KEY FACTS
The Travis County Sheriff’s Office confirmed Saturday that multiple boats sank during a Trump parade on Lake Travis, a popular summer boating spot on the western edge of Austin.
Austin-Travis County EMS said in a statement that no injuries have been reported at the rally, and that it was not requested to provide assistance.
The New York Times reported at least four boats have sank.
Upwards of 2,000 people had marked themselves as going on the event’s Facebook page.
People on the scene like Dawn Buckingham, a Republican Texas state senator, said there were hundreds of boats taking part in the parade earlier in the day to show their support for President Donald Trump.
Key background
The event’s Facebook page encouraged attendees to “really make a statement.” The event’s description read: “Boats of all shapes and sizes are encouraged to participate. Decorate your boats in patriotic colors and fly as many Trump flags as she can handle.” Pacey Chynow, who organized the event, told the Austin American-Statesman prior to the parade that she aimed to show President Trump has supporters in the “silent majority,” saying “my true motivation for doing this is that I have a child, and I am fighting for her. This is my way of saying this is the future that I want for her to inherit.” Other Trump boat rallies have taken place in states like Florida and New Jersey.