QUEMARD, Texas — Hundreds of rally-goers gathered on a private ranch in the small border community of Quemado, about 20 miles north of the Texas-occupied border park in Eagle Pass, Texas. On a warm Saturday afternoon, an estimated 500 people gathered to listen to moving speeches and Christian music. One of the event organizers told Breitbart Texas that the group intended to hold a peaceful demonstration with a message of prayer for the safety of the United States.
At the ranch gate, Take Our Border Back Rally volunteers identified people attempting to enter and allowed media from around the country to cover the rally. Inside the small ranch, food trucks and stalls selling patriotic T-shirts, hats and other items were located near a stage where a band played Christian music.
Convoy participants listen to inspiring music and speeches. (Randy Clark/Breitbart, Texas)
Participants walked around the area, talking and listening to messages from the stage. Many people were sitting in lawn chairs and just enjoying the music. A number of attendees wore red, white and blue clothing, many wearing shirts and hats showing support for Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump. Flags with messages of support for the former president were flown from vehicles inside and outside the venue.
See also: Convoy of truckers arrives just north of Eagle Pass.
They came from Texas, Arkansas, Maryland, Missouri, New Mexico, New York and more, seeking a secure border. pic.twitter.com/GWVQkPsggT
— Virginia Allen (@Virginia_Allen5) February 3, 2024
Trenice Evans, one of the organizers, told Breitbart Texas that the rally is being held in support of all law enforcement officers along the federal-state border. Evans said the rally will remain in Quemado and will not enter the city of Eagle Pass, where the takeover of the city’s border park has received significant media attention in recent weeks. Evans said the “Take Back Our Border” group does not want to disrupt ongoing law enforcement operations in Eagle Pass or impact local commuters’ ability to travel within the city. .
#now “Take back our borders” #BorderConvoy Continue through San Antonio in the direction of Eagle Pass, Texas for a meeting at the ranch. pic.twitter.com/XnG5YPCctv
— Oliya Scooter Caster (@ScooterCasterNY) February 2, 2024
Part of the convoy that arrived in Quemado on Friday evening departed from Virginia, stopping in several cities along the southwest border during its journey. In addition to the rally in Quemado, Texas, other participants in the convoy will visit Tucson, Arizona, and San Diego, California.
Groups outside border convoy display hate messages. (Randy Clark/Breitbart, Texas)
The peaceful rally inside the ranch was disrupted by other groups outside the convoy, who were stationed on the road outside the ranch. Evans stood at the entrance to his private ranch and used bull horns to denounce the presence of a group of demonstrators from a group calling themselves official street preachers who carried banners denouncing homosexuality and the BLM organization. Mr. Evans asked participants to avoid interaction with those advocating these positions and to remain on the ranch.
On stage, the same message was broadcast to participants, asking them to avoid interacting with groups displaying hateful messages and to pray for them instead. Evans told Breitbart Texas that those groups were not invited. He said he was disappointed by their conspicuous position in the roadway outside the peaceful rally the motorcade was participating in.
A man in a Batman costume sells products outside a rally. (Randy Clark/Breitbart, Texas)
A man outside the event wearing a Batman costume appeared to be taking advantage of the assembled crowd to promote merchandise unrelated to the border security cause.
In addition to the hundreds of peaceful rally participants inside the ranch, several law enforcement officers from the State of Texas and Maverick County Sheriff’s Departments patrolled outside the ranch, blocking traffic on the small road from Quemado’s farm to market. The flow was maintained.
randy clark He is a 32-year veteran of the U.S. Border Patrol. Prior to his retirement, he served as Division Chief of Law Enforcement Operations, directing operations for nine Border Patrol stations within the Del Rio, Texas area. Follow him on Twitter @RandyClarkBBTX.
