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The scheduled “ReAwaken America” tour stop in Rochester, New York, was canceled on Monday.
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The owner of Main Street Armory said he’d heard a deluge of concern from local residents.
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“ReAwaken America” has been described as promoting Christian nationalism and white supremacy.
The owner of an upstate New York venue that was set to host the controversial “ReAwaken America” tour in August canceled the event after it received widespread backlash from locals.
Main Street Armory’s owner, Scott Donaldson, wrote in an email on Monday that he made his decision after “careful thought” and in response to an outpouring “of concern from our community, both good and bad,” several local media outlets reported.
“I’d like to say that the Main Street Armory is an equal opportunity and non-political venue,” Donaldson’s statement read, according to Spectrum News. “We do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, gender, gender expression, age, national origin, disability, etc.”
“I believe everyone has the right to their own opinions and beliefs,” he continued.
Main Street Armory did not immediately respond to Insider’s requests for comment.
The “ReAwaken America” tour was originally scheduled to make a stop in Rochester, New York, on August 12 and 13 at Donaldson’s entertainment venue.
Since the tour launched in April 2021, it’s traveled to states including Ohio, Florida, Michigan, Colorado, and Texas, according to its website. August’s event in Rochester would have been the group’s first rally in New York.
Organized by Clay Clark, a conservative podcast host, the events have been described as a hotbed for far-right extremist groups like QAnon. High-profile Christian leaders have said it promotes Christian nationalism that pushes “anti-democratic, pro-violence and Q-Anon-inspired ideology,” Baptist News Global reported.
The tour’s featured speakers have included the MyPillow CEO Mike Lindell, the