Like most Portlanders- and hopefully most Mainers in general- I was repulsed by the idea of yet another campaign visit from Republican presidential candidate and orange-faced monster, Donald Trump, to our fair city.

Troy R. Bennett, BDN.

In what appears to be a growing movement, though, Mainers from the Greater Portland area are buying up tickets to the rally at the historic 1,900 seat Merrill Auditorium with zero intentions of actually attending the event.

This is being done in an effort to keep attendance low, and also to show Trump that his disgusting brand of bigoted and ignorant politics has no place in Portland or in Maine.

With no official website or Facebook page, right now there’s just online posts, shares, and comments to go on, but the idea seems to be picking up steam quickly.

Currently, social media comments include:

“Let’s make this event half empty!”

“Two more reserved for nobody!”

“Done. Though I felt a little gross even filling out the online form.”

It’s being rumored that the Trump campaign intentionally over books their events specifically to avoid things like this from affecting attendance levels, but whether that’s true or not isn’t all that important.

What’s important is that Mainers are joining together to rebuke Trump’s presence in our state, and make clear to him that he is not welcome here.

Troy R. Bennett, BDN.

To reserve tickets- whether you plan on actually attending or not- go here.