BATAVIA, N.Y. — An event scheduled in Rochester and later canceled after criticism by city officials and others in the community continues to move forward in Genesee County.

The "ReAwaken America Tour" will take place in Batavia.

“This is just an assembly of conservative Christian believers that want to talk about some of the issues of the day," said Pastor Paul Doyle of Cornerstone Church.

What You Need To Know

  • A Batavia church is prepares for the "ReAwaken America Tour" despite backlash
  • Cornerstone Church will host the two-day event that begins next Friday
  • Protesters call it a white supremacist movement that spreads hate
  • Organizers say it's an assembly of conservative Christian believers exercising their First Amendment rights to talk about important issues

Cornerstone Church is preparing to host the a two-day event that begins next Friday.

Among the people slated to take the stage there: Michael Flynn, a former security advisor to former President Donald Trump and the subject of testimony in recent House committee hearings on the January 6 insurrection. Others include President Trump’s son, Eric Trump, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and other conservatives.

Speakers also include doctors with disputing opinions on vaccines.

“It’s just another perspective lined up with the First Amendment that we have the freedom to assemble, freedom to speak," said Pastor Doyle.

The event has taken place in several cities in the country and was to be held at the Main Street Armory in Rochester until pressure from the community, and other events canceling shows at the venue, forced a cancellation.

“I just think if events like these are canceled because of pressure, I just think that's a slippery slope, no matter what side of the aisle you're on," said Pastor Doyle.

When the ReAwaken America Tour moved the event to Batavia, some folks in Genesee County gathered to voice their opposition.

“Hate has no home here. We do not want Genesee County to become, to be a foothold in the white supremacy movement," said protest organizer Loren Penman during a recent rally.

Pastor Doyle responds, “They throw words around like white supremacists. And I'm thinking, I pastor a church. I also have a network … and we go to cities and neighborhoods all over Western New York and go do outreaches. We reach out to tough communities. We were the church network that was up at the Buffalo shooting site at Tops. We were there the next day… I’m just an average guy. You know, I own a business in Rochester. I volunteer as a pastor here.”

The ReAwaken America Tour has paid for fencing to surround the property at the church for the event and Pastor Doyle says he is talking to local law enforcement for more security.

"About 3,500 people will be here,” he said. “They’ll enter through one specific area of the gated area. There will be security checks. I don't know how comprehensive they're going to be. They're probably going to be pretty comprehensive. The Secret Service will be here. There will be law enforcement here. And there will be plainclothes officers here as well.”

Pastor Doyle says, while there are protesters, there are also supporters. And despite the backlash, he will not be canceling the event.

"You know, they canceled in Rochester. We're here in a cornfield. We're not even in a city,” he said. “So it's not even going to affect that many people here, you know, and if you don't want to come to it, don't come.”