CARROLLTON, Ga- Protesters gathered in front of the Train Depot, where U.S Sen. Kelly Loeffler held a meet-and-greet event on Sept. 1, 2020.
The peaceful protest against Loeffler’s policies and reelection began at noon, on Bradley Street, 30 minutes before the event as part of the candidate’s statewide Campaign “All About Georgia Tour” to maintain her Senate seat in the Nov. 3 election.
“Kelly Loeffler is having a fundraiser here,” said the protest organizer Bryan Hager. “We want to let her know and all the people who are attending this fundraiser that people in this community do not support her, do not support a candidate who can buy her way into office.”
The meet-and-greet attendees were welcomed with chants and signs condemning Loeffler’s supports for President Donald Trump and this latter’s response to Covid-19 and the Black Lives Matter movement.
“We’re here to protest Kelly Loeffler, Donald Trump, and their policies that have led to the deaths of 180,000 of Americans and thousands of people who died due to police violence,” said Hager. “The racism that Donald Trump is promoting and that Loeffler is enabling is hurting this country, and it is hurting people.”
The protesters chanted: “Black lives Matter” as a response to Loeffler, who has recently spoken out against the Black Lives Matter organization.
“The vigilante justice is not the justice we should have in this country,” said another protester, Pat Rhudy. “And the Republican Party is definitely inciting the kind of vigilante justice that we see happening.”
Sen. Loeffler is running against fellow Republican U.S. Representative Doug Collins and Democratic candidate Rev. Raphael Warnock on the ballot in November.
Loeffler came to Carrollton to consolidate support for her reelection. Several Carrollton officials attended the events, including former Carrollton City Councilmember and State Judge Candidate Met Lane.
Loeffler was joined by Georgia officials Lt. Gov. Geoff Duncan, Attorney General Chris Carr, Insurance Commissioner John King, and Public Service Commissioner Tim Echols during her stops in Columbus, Carrollton Fayetteville on Sept. 1, 2020.
The protest was sponsored by West Georgia United and the Carroll County Committee of the Democratic Party of Georgia.
Photo Credits: Alma Beauvais
Alma Beauvais is The WOLF's News Director and current senior of Mass Communications at the University of West Georgia.
