Pasadena Republicans Rally for Trump in South Pasadena

[Editor’s note: The crowd size description has been increased following a belated estimate from South Pasadena Police not available until Monday morning.]

Following a car and truck caravan through Old Pasadena, an estimated 350 supporters gathered at a South Pasadena intersection Sunday afternoon for a noisy 1 p.m. rally in support of President Donald Trump. The event was organized by the Pasadena Republican Club. 

The demonstrators stood on the sidewalks at all four corners of the intersection Fair Oaks Avenue and Mission Street and waved flags, chanted “U-S-A!,” and held up signs in support of the president.

A constant stream of vehicles, festooned with American flags, cruised through the intersection honking their horns in support. 

“I am here to support President Trump,” said Ed Bedrosian of Pasadena. “The other side will destroy this country,” he added. “They will turn this into a socialist country.”

Asked why he was supporting President Trump, Ian Smith of  Pasadena, said, “It’s more a question of ‘Why not?’ All of the trade deals and the multiple Nobel Peace Prize nominations? I mean, come on.”

There were no reports of incidents during the rally. Most participants began to disperse about 90 minutes after the rally began.

South Pasadena police said officers responded hours later, at 6 p.m., to the same intersection in response to a “reported physical  altercation between two opposing political groups.”  

Police did not say if the incident was directly related to the earlier related.

According to a statement to South Pasadena Police, officers contacted the parties involved, upon arrival,  and confirmed that an altercation did occur. 

Medical treatment was offered and witness statements were obtained. Those  directly involved in the incident requested prosecution of the other, according to the police.

Police said the case will be presented to the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office for review and potential criminal filing.  Any persons with information regarding the incident may call the South Pasadena Police Detective Bureau at  (626) 403-7280.  

A South Pasadena police watch commander declined to answer questions from Pasadena Now about the rally and referred the matter to a Lieutenant, who did not respond.