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.
JUST IN: The \u201cAmerica First\u201d rally with Reps. Marjorie Taylor Greene and Matt Gaetz that was scheduled for 6 pm Saturday at the Riverside Convention Center will not take placepic.twitter.com/c6CYfx6pdC— Ema Sasic (@Ema Sasic) 1626495705
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.
Radical communists have spent the last week trying to cancel our America First Rally w/ @mattgaetz.\n\nViolent threats from BLM/Antifa were used again today to bully another venue.\n\nWe won\u2019t back down.\n\nOur rally is happening tomorrow night in California.pic.twitter.com/pJ8zOI8TQD— Marjorie Taylor Greene \ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\uddf8 (@Marjorie Taylor Greene \ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\uddf8) 1626490046
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.
These quotes are going to make great exhibits in the lawsuit @RepMTG and I will be filing.\n\nMeanwhile, join us today at our alternate location. \n\nSign up at https://AmericaFirstRallyTour.com\u00a0https://twitter.com/ema_sasic/status/1416251752534343681\u00a0\u2026— Matt Gaetz (@Matt Gaetz) 1626531039
Both Gaetz's and Greene's Tweets were greeted with apathy and amusement, as well as a fair amount of disdain.
NOBODY cares— Betsy (@Betsy) 1626531107
Our defense. Covid is spreading again . Case dismissed— Jake from State Farm 2.0 (@Jake from State Farm 2.0) 1626531130
What part of WE DON'T WANT YOU HERE don't you understand?— ReginaPhalanges\ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\uddf8 (@ReginaPhalanges\ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\uddf8) 1626531137
You are nuts. none of what you describe actually exists.— Kristina Wong \u2744\ufe0f (@Kristina Wong \u2744\ufe0f) 1626490135
You are truly going off the deep end. Lordy!— Tim Murphy \ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\uddf8 (@Tim Murphy \ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\uddf8) 1626490197
You are truly going off the deep end. Lordy!— Tim Murphy \ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\uddf8 (@Tim Murphy \ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\uddf8) 1626490197
pic.twitter.com/2Fr8PhA1gr— Lolo (@Lolo) 1626490286
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.
MAJOR UPDATE: planned America First rally cancelled. See statement below.\n\n#abc7eyewitness #NBCLA #KTLA #KCBS #fox11pic.twitter.com/RXGfbYeQjp— City of Anaheim (@City of Anaheim) 1626540498
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."
pic.twitter.com/ZnbqESI7St— Meidas Ivy \ud83c\udf0a\u270a\ud83c\udffc\ud83e\udde9\ud83c\udf08 (@Meidas Ivy \ud83c\udf0a\u270a\ud83c\udffc\ud83e\udde9\ud83c\udf08) 1626540884
pic.twitter.com/c7tAYY8Mpb— \ud83c\udf41 \ud83d\ude37 Auntie Fa in #DowntownCanada (@\ud83c\udf41 \ud83d\ude37 Auntie Fa in #DowntownCanada) 1626541063
Thank you. Safety and the Health of people must always be a priority. The Pandemic is still with us.— Lynn Attison \ud83d\ude3b\u2764\u270c\ud83c\udff3\ufe0f\u200d\ud83c\udf08 (@Lynn Attison \ud83d\ude3b\u2764\u270c\ud83c\udff3\ufe0f\u200d\ud83c\udf08) 1626541187
Y'all are wonderful. LOVE that you have *a duty to call out speech that does not reflect our city and its values*. Wish more Americans would do this, you are to be commended!!!— SVSalon \ud83e\udd95 (@SVSalon \ud83e\udd95) 1626542290
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."
Peaceful Protest Against Communism\n\nRiverside City Hall, California\n\nTODAY 5pm PST\n\nCalling all California PATRIOTS!\n\n#AmericaFirstpic.twitter.com/jHNHRyTWtH— Matt Gaetz (@Matt Gaetz) 1626555643
But what seemed like a last ditch effort was greeted with considerable ridicule.
pic.twitter.com/JmcsxbCov8— AnnyB1021 (@AnnyB1021) 1626555679
Has it been cancelled yet??— DF (@DF) 1626555683
2 Hours later\u2026.Matt couldn\u2019t take being cancelled. pic.twitter.com/GETYubigER— Labellaluna11 (@Labellaluna11) 1626557468
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.
Now Anaheim has canceled on Matt Gaetz and Marjorie Taylor Greene. \nAt this point I don\u2019t think The Four Seasons Total Landscaping will let them use their parking lot \u2026 after hours\u2026 in the middle of a blizzard. But ..pic.twitter.com/t3EiGsuG4H— teatime75 (@teatime75) 1626546194
You two could hold it in the back of Four Seasons Total Landscaping, you know, like good ol Rudy did.pic.twitter.com/49KPWZypiR— @RealUSCitizen (@@RealUSCitizen) 1626544692
Just In: Matt Gaetz and Marjorie Taylor Greene are warming up for the thrice cancelled America First rally at Four Seasons Total Landscaping.pic.twitter.com/TtXuyuJn05— Kate \ud83e\udd0d\ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\uddf8 (@Kate \ud83e\udd0d\ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\uddf8) 1626552149
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.
