Hundreds of conservative volunteers participated in a massive cleanup in West Baltimore Monday, organized by grassroots activist and ardent Trump supporter Scott Presler (aka #ThePersistence on Twitter) after the president called Democratic Rep. Elijah Cummings’ congressional district a “dangerous and filthy place.”
According to WBALTV, the effort began at 8:00 a.m. and involved nearly 300 volunteers who “removed a toilet, chairs, tables and spare tires, among other things, from piles of trash in a West Baltimore alley.” They also weed-whacked and picked up leaves in an attempt to beautify the struggling neighborhoods.
This is one of the proudest moments of my life. #AmericansHelpingAmericans pic.twitter.com/TxLY2Ippra
— ThePersistence (@ScottPresler) August 5, 2019
Some volunteers paid “out of pocket for port-a-potties, food, water and a dumpster,” WBALTV reported. Sam’s Club pitched in by donating 1,000 water bottles to the activists.
Thank you to @SamsClub for donating 1,000 water bottles to our Baltimore cleanup. #AmericansHelpingAmericans pic.twitter.com/ySNUPwUiOK
— ThePersistence (@ScottPresler) August 5, 2019
“This isn’t about Trump or anti-Representative Cummings,” Presler says in the video below. “This is about we want to help our fellow citizens and we want to come together as a family because we’re all Americans.”
We're here in West Baltimore to pick up trash.
This isn't a Trump rally, nor an anti-Representative Cummings event.
This is simply #AmericansHelpingAmericans. pic.twitter.com/Kxl6nVClxy
— ThePersistence (@ScottPresler) August 5, 2019
The conservative crew managed to completely clear out a couple of trash-ridden alleys:
Before & After: #AmericansHelpingAmericans pic.twitter.com/EcOvNC5fDa
— ThePersistence (@ScottPresler) August 5, 2019
Before & After:
West Baltimore. #AmericansHelpingAmericans pic.twitter.com/0AAYEupvPy
— ThePersistence (@ScottPresler) August 5, 2019
President @realDonaldTrump,
we spent the day in West Baltimore cleaning up trash.
A local woman, Louise, took me by the hand to show me where her neighborhood needs help.
She wanted me to thank you for bringing attention to Baltimore. pic.twitter.com/s8gT3DTuoO
— ThePersistence (@ScottPresler) August 6, 2019
“I think it’s great. It’s a good thing,” said Arnold Tyree, of Baltimore.
“This is our city, and we need to clean it up,” said Kenny Ebron, of west Baltimore.
People came from not only the surrounding areas, but also Pennsylvania, Ohio and New Jersey to help with the clean-up, Presler said.
What an outpouring of love in West Baltimore! #AmericansHelpingAmericans #MondayMotivation pic.twitter.com/klC0RQpqFb
— ThePersistence (@ScottPresler) August 5, 2019
Some residents thanked President Trump for bringing national attention to the community’s problems.
Baltimore locals from Representative Cummings' District 7 thank President @realDonaldTrump for bringing attention to Baltimore. #AmericansHelpingAmericans pic.twitter.com/RxQtliHPc2
— ThePersistence (@ScottPresler) August 5, 2019
Some of the trash the crew picked up was almost 11 years old.
We found this newspaper while cleaning up trash in West Baltimore.
It's been 11 years. #AmericansHelpingAmericans pic.twitter.com/rK9fUif0Z2
— ThePersistence (@ScottPresler) August 5, 2019
Volunteers said that they would try to keep the effort going.
“I’m going to try and keep it going myself,” Dustin Fifer, of Baltimore, told 11 News. “It won’t happen overnight but slowly, if we get the ball rolling, it will get bigger and bigger and people will realize that people care about this place.”
In just the first few hours, the group cleaned up two blocks of alleys and sidewalks. The hope is to make the effort a monthly event.
The volunteers cleared out piles of trash in vacant lots — including furniture and TVs — and organizers said they believe they hauled out 12 to 14 tons of trash, including three complete dumpster loads.
Imagine if we picked up trash in every city across America. #AmericansHelpingAmericans pic.twitter.com/9Ucyvgew6Y
— ThePersistence (@ScottPresler) August 6, 2019
West Baltimore local says, "I'm really happy. I want to cry.
I truly appreciate it." #AmericansHelpingAmericans #Baltimore pic.twitter.com/KCXZUXH36x
— ThePersistence (@ScottPresler) August 5, 2019
Thank you to the over 170+ volunteers who helped pick up trash in Baltimore.
We were out from 8 a.m. – 8 p.m. & picked up over 12 tons of trash. #AmericansHelpingAmericans pic.twitter.com/t0JqOouKxF
— ThePersistence (@ScottPresler) August 5, 2019
“I’m thankful that [Trump] brought attention to Baltimore,” Presler told the Baltimore Sun. “It’s important to know that although we are the best, freest, greatest country in the world, we still have our problems, and we can’t look at the world just through rose-colored glasses.”
We did it. pic.twitter.com/jNCqxzHURj
— ThePersistence (@ScottPresler) August 6, 2019
Presler said that “people all over the country” have been messaging him to start cleanups in their local cities. “We did something very special in Baltimore yesterday — it’s having a nationwide effect,” he tweeted.