You remember how the story played out: President Trump insulted the honorable Rep. Elijah Cummings by tweeting about how his district, and Baltimore in particular, was a rat- and rodent-infested mess. There was plenty of hand-wringing, plenty of defenses of Cummings, and charges of racism against Trump.

And in the meantime, Scott Presler, who goes by “The Persistence” on Twitter, organized a crew, rented some dumpsters, and picked up and disposed of several tons of trash.

And for his efforts, Presler and his volunteers were trashed by The Baltimore Sun. “Whatever he says his motives were, Scott Presler’s presence in Baltimore reinforces the tired image that the poor people in this city can’t take care of their own neighborhoods,” the Sun tweeted, cleaning up nothing in the process. “We assume it was pure motives that led a Trump supporter to launch a cleanup in Cummings’ district, right?” was the snarky headline.

Dear @baltimoresun, I want you to know I'm meeting with my volunteer team this week to plan Baltimore cleanup #2. I made a promise to 81-year-old, Louise, that we would come back to West Baltimore & I'm a man of my word. — #ThePersistence (@ScottPresler) August 12, 2019

Hey Baltimore Sun, have you contributed to the cleanup efforts? Has Rep. Cummings been by to see the improvements?

Well, Presler said he’d be back in a month, and he kept to his word:

We picked up 7 tons of trash in 10 hours. Thank you to every single volunteer who made this possible. #BaltimoreCleanup pic.twitter.com/gkyUv2uf5g — #ThePersistence (@ScottPresler) September 9, 2019

Awesome.

You're an amazing man, Scott! Thank you for all you do. — ADik)))Hurricane (@ADikHurricane) September 9, 2019

You are a good man scott — Dave with type 1 (@Daveinwi4trump) September 9, 2019

That should be all over MSM god bless you for your selfless work man! @POTUS — Mister H (@Inksummit) September 9, 2019

You’ve got this. You are an amazing person. — Raven (@Raven73461363) September 9, 2019

YOU ROCK!!! — Discover Baltimore (@discoverbalto) September 9, 2019

Way to go dude. You did a very good thing. — JamesMark (@JamesMark1113) September 9, 2019

I really hope more people show up next time and it keeps growing. I want it to get legs of its own as well. Then spawn more groups. People need to step up for their areas since corruption isn't. The new leaders will be born from this movement hopefully — StrikesagainHa! (@StrikesagainHa) September 9, 2019

Hey, did Daryle show up this time and help? Just wondering:

HEADS UP, BALTIMORE! If you are anywhere near N. Fulton Ave. and Westwood Ave, a few well-known neo-fascist gloryhounds that like to pull stunts and pretend they are not – namely Jack Posobiec and Scott Pressler – are in Baltimore making like they are doing a cleanup of the city. — Daryle Lamont Jenkins (@DLamontJenkins) August 5, 2019

I will support someone who ‘does’ over someone who ‘says’ every time. Strong work. — howie miller (@howiemiller4) September 9, 2019

Good job! Keep it up!! — Allen Anderson (@MontanaHippy) September 9, 2019

You are appreciated so much by your followers, and certainly now the citizens of Baltimore. Thank you for walking the walk. ? — Chris (@a1chargersfan) September 9, 2019

I appreciate and admire what you are doing. Keep up the great work. One of these cities I plan on joining your army of volunteers. ? so please keep posting where you are organizing — Cynthia (@CynthZee) September 9, 2019

Thank you, thank you, thank you for all of your hard work!!! You are a gift from God! — Janet (@techmom86) September 9, 2019

I just love Scott! If only we all were as generous and kind. — AGenova (@amgenova) September 9, 2019

Not a tweet today recognizing this great team work, @baltimoresun ?????? — Erika Flanders ???? (@GenXnerdgirl65) September 9, 2019

I’d wager no one who works there bothered to help, either. I wonder what their “motivation” is? — Juli Page Morgan (@JuliPageMorgan) September 9, 2019

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