Democratic House Leader Nancy Pelosi and Rep. Barbara Lee were in Coral Gables, FL to campaign for Democratic House candidates when 25 paid protesters showed up and started calling Democrats “commies” and “witches.”
Here was the scene in Coral Gables:
I’m in Coral Gables working with @martindvassolo. @NancyPelosi and @RepBarbaraLee were scheduled to campaign for @DonnaShalala and @DebbieforFL here today. About 25 protesters are standing outside, holding signs supporting Republicans and accusing Democrats of being communists. pic.twitter.com/4aStMkFwnx
— Jimena Tavel (@taveljimena) October 17, 2018
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Then the crowd got violent:
The crowd has grown. They’re striking the door to the building where the event will take place. They’re also screaming “commie†and calling the Democrats “witches.†pic.twitter.com/08ZafRtxwp
— Jimena Tavel (@taveljimena) October 17, 2018
The Secret Service locked the doors and wouldn’t let people in:
Here’s a picture of the protesters outside. Police and Secret Service locked the doors right now and aren’t letting anyone in anymore. pic.twitter.com/WNLtirergC
— Jimena Tavel (@taveljimena) October 17, 2018
Republican House candidates are said to have paid the protesters to disrupt the event:
It’s not fair to them — and to the many who want us to hold Trump accountable. And this is a photo I saw online. @carloslcurbelo and @MaElviraSalazar paid Proud Boy protesters to organize this protest. It’s disgraceful. pic.twitter.com/uOwKPzQEax
— Michael Austin (@mike_austin_jr) October 18, 2018
Republicans are losing, which is why they are getting violent and extreme
Republicans are using brown shirt tactics to physically intimidate their opposition. A desperate party that already doesn’t represent the majority of the country is using the most extreme and undemocratic methods imaginable in a desperate bid to hold on to power. The Republican paid protesters have been whipped into a frenzy by conspiracy theories pushed on Fox News and in conservative media, and fully embraced by Republican leaders, including Donald Trump, about left-wing mobs.
As Sarah Jones wrote, acts of right-wing violence vastly outnumber those committed by the left.
Republicans can’t win fair elections, so they are trying to stop Democrats from organizing the people to vote them out of office.
Be determined, not intimidated, and resolve to take even more people to the polls to vote on Election Day.
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Jason is the managing editor. He is also a White House Press Pool and a Congressional correspondent for PoliticusUSA. Jason has a Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science. His graduate work focused on public policy, with a specialization in social reform movements.
Awards and Professional Memberships
Member of the Society of Professional Journalists and The American Political Science Association
