It was a bright Saturday morning along John Wayne Parkway. About 25 people lined the roadside waving flags and signs at passing cars. The honks came steadily, sometimes all five fingers waving in support, sometimes just one finger displayed. The people gathered said the reactions didn’t deter them.

Organized by members of the City of Maricopa Republican Club, the event was billed as a show of support for conservative commentator Charlie Kirk, President Donald Trump and “freedom.” Several attendees said they were new to political activism but were inspired to come out by Kirk’s Sept. 10 assassination in Utah.

Pat Ortega said she came “because I believe in freedom, and I believe in Charlie Kirk. I think more people should be involved with this.”

She said she started following polit

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