The rally in Montgomery, NY in Orange County from the The American Patriot Council billed as a “freedom march” in support of gun rights for hunters, despite any push for gun rights being taken away from hunters, was held in the small town of Montgomery yesterday that was originally supposed to happen within 100 feet of an early voting location - a senior center.

Originally, the location was approved by the Village Board earlier this month. Last minute, after pushback from residents, it was moved to a location further away. A parents group from Valley Central School District issued a press release on Friday to urge Mayor Steve Brescia to cancel or move the rally, saying no public events should be allowed near that poll site during the early-voting period.

The American Patriot Council is known for its "armed protest against coronavirus restrictions inside the Michigan state capitol and were accused of having ties to the foiled plot to kidnap Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer, but have disavowed any connection,” according to the article.

Montgomery's Mayor Steve Brescia, a Republican who is running for state Senate, and police Chief William Herlihy told the Times Herald-Record on Friday that "the rally's proximity to a polling station at the start of voting was purely coincidental, and that the organizers originally proposed a march at another location until it was suggested they gather at the park instead," the article stated.

The original invitation to the rally included encouragement to bring guns. The invitation was removed from Eventbrite. Chief Herlihy said village police couldn't prevent any rally participants from carrying handguns if licensed to do so, and. Steve told the newspaper: "We'll be talking to the organizers, and it will definitely be discouraged." The American Patriot Council is promoting rallies to take place at the same time on Saturday to “demand emancipation from the bondage of tyranny.”

Mayor Steve Brecia, who is also the Orange County Legislature chairman, said that 2 Black Lives Matter marches took place in Montgomery earlier this year, and that the village had no reason to refuse a rally billed as a celebration of patriotism. He did not see why voters would feel intimidated, with that many people decorated in flags standing so close by, giving speeches. "Why should there be any voter suppression here?" he is quoted as saying in the article.

According to the article, Montgomery Town Supervisor Brian Maher said he offered the town's Benedict Memorial Park, which is about two miles down Route 17K from the village, as an alternate site. He said village Mayor Steve Brescia accepted the offer and alerted participants of the change.

According to the article, concerns were raised about the prospect of voter intimidation, as well as the practical matter rally attendees taking parking spots from potential voters.

Initially, the the event for Saturday's rally in Montgomery, which was posted in Eventbrite but was taken down, had encouraged participants to carry guns. According to the article, “none were visible during the 30-minute rally. It also invoked the upcoming election, but made no mention of the voting taking place locally.”