Trump vehicle parade, rally at Irwin Park set for Sept. 20

Supporters of President Donald Trump are planning a flag-waving vehicle parade along Route 30 in Irwin and North Huntingdon on Sunday, followed by what organizers say will be a three-hour rally at Irwin Park.

The parade of vehicles will organize at 10 a.m. at Norwin Hills Shopping Center on Route 30 in North Huntingdon and proceed at 11 a.m. westward to Norwin Town Square, then back eastward on Route 30 to Irwin Park by noon, said Edward Kroupa of Penn Borough, one of three organizers of the event.

Kroupa said they wanted to organize the rally because the election is so important and it is “all about the love of God and love of country.”

Four local Republican officials are expected to be among the speakers: State Sen. Kim Ward of Hempfield, state representatives George Dunbar of Penn Township and Bob Brooks of Murrysville and Westmoreland County Commissioner Sean Kertes, Kroupa said. A former socialist-turned-conservative also is scheduled to speak, Kroupa said.

The speakers will talk from the amphitheater at one end of the park, Kroupa said.

Keith Gill Jr., a country singer from North Huntingdon, will provide entertainment, as well as a 10-year-old boy from Penn Township who dresses as Trump, Kroupa said.

Shari Martino, Irwin Borough manager, said the group does not need a permit to hold a political rally at the park. A group of Norwin High School students who organized a Black Lives Matter rally in June also did not need a permit to gather at the park and exercise their freedom of speech, Martino said at the time.

While he was unable to predict the turnout for an afternoon when the Pittsburgh Steelers will be playing the Denver Broncos at 1 pm., Kroupa said they have had a good response from notices posted on Facebook pages.

Organizers recommend that attendees bring their own chairs to the park and wear masks when social distancing of at least 6 feet is not possible.