Republican Activist Organizes Cleanup In West Baltimore

An ardent supporter of President Donald Trump marshaled about 70 people Monday for a community cleanup in West Baltimore.

Scott Presler first suggested the cleanup in a Twitter post that has since gone viral. The Pennsylvania man said the effort is not a "pro-Trump rally or an anti-Rep. [Elijah] Cummings" event, referring to the Baltimore congressman who Trump took aim at in tweets and remarks more than a week ago.

Next week, I'm coming to Baltimore.



I'm organizing a trash clean up in the city.



If you're free on a week day, after work, please comment below for more details. #WeAreBaltimore — #ThePersistence (@ScottPresler) July 28, 2019

In a tweet the day before launching the cleanup effort, he suggested he would "stand in the middle of the city with a sign that asks why democrats choose illegal aliens over black lives." His visit to Baltimore comes during a slate of his planned Republican activist training sessions in the region.

However, Presler said he was in Baltimore Monday out of a genuine desire to help, not because of his politics.

“This is not political,” he said. “We saw a need in the city, and we wanted to come together.”

The crew @ScottPresler rallied today is working so fast we are having trouble keeping up! pic.twitter.com/5CHa7X3YzT — Kate Amara (@kateamaraWBAL) August 5, 2019

The post brought people from several surrounding states. More than 230 people signed up to work cleanup shifts. Volunteers were set to work at the site from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.

The group also included Pastor Tony Hill, who leads a west Baltimore congregation.

“It’s people over politics,” Hill said. “Things like this really forge alliances between neighbors. “We have one cause in mind and that’s to clean up Baltimore.”

Some people were wary of the push behind the clean-up, given it was organized by supporters of the president.

“These must be the good ones,” said Sondra Rae, who has lived in this neighborhood her whole life. “I don’t like Trump, but what they are doing is fantastic.”

Presler said his initiative paid for dumpsters, portable bathrooms and food.

A pro-#Trump group organized a community clean-up here in West #Baltimore today, but organizer @ScottPresler says this ‘this is not a Trump rally or an anti-Rep. Cummings event,’ rather ‘we saw a need.’ Many are here from several states, plus locals too @wbalradio pic.twitter.com/s7Ybk2aF4u — Phil Yacuboski (@WBALPhil) August 5, 2019

Nearly a week ago, Trump tweeted that Cummings' district "is a disgusting, rat and rodent infested mess," adding that "if he [Cummings] spent more time in Baltimore, maybe he could help clean up this very dangerous and filthy place."

Cummings later responded, saying, "Mr. President, I go home to my district daily. Each morning, I wake up, and I go and fight for my neighbors," adding, "It is my constitutional duty to conduct oversight of the Executive Branch. But, it is my moral duty to fight for my constituents."

As chairman of the House Oversight Committee, Cummings recently got approval to subpoena emails and texts sent to or from top White House officials, including Ivanka Trump and Jared Kushner, using what the committee believes are personal accounts.

In a Saturday park dedication in west Baltimore, Cummings said he welcomed people to Baltimore to help, not to criticize.

Trump said he would visit Baltimore in due time, but didn’t give a date.

Jim Calan, of Virginia Beach, VA, cleaned up trash along a section of Westwood Ave. as part of a clean-up effort organized by #Trump supporters - the group said this was ‘not about politics,’ rather helping where they saw a need. @wbalradio pic.twitter.com/IsANbfYHVq — Phil Yacuboski (@WBALPhil) August 5, 2019