COMMON DEFENSE MEMBERS PROTEST TRUMP RE-ELECTION CAMPAIGN AT WINTHROP UNIVERSITY
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
February 23, 2024
MEDIA CONTACT:
Clyde D. Gunter
COMMON DEFENSE MEMBERS PROTEST TRUMP RE-ELECTION CAMPAIGN AT WINTHROP UNIVERSITY
ROCK HILL, SOUTH CAROLINA — Members of Common Defense, the nation’s largest grassroots veteran organization, convened at Winthrop Coliseum at Winthrop University for a protest against former president Donald Trump’s campaign for re-election. Former president Trump hosted this event as South Carolina voters will go to the polls on Feb. 24 to help pick a Republican candidate for president.
"Trump is painting a very clear picture of his desire to dismantle the structure of American democracy in favor of his own private dictatorship. There's a large military and veteran presence in the Carolinas, and we have had enough of Trump insulting all of us who served to defend our democracy." – said Ted Spencer, a Navy Veteran from North Carolina.
Veterans and supporters of Common Defense voiced their opposition to Trump's rhetoric and policies, which they see as undermining the democratic values they fought to uphold. The protest drew attention to Trump's attempts to undermine the electoral process and his disregard for the principles of democracy.
The event showcased the commitment of veterans to safeguarding democracy and upholding the values enshrined in the U.S. Constitution. Common Defense members emphasized the importance of holding candidates and elected officials accountable for their words and actions and standing up against any threats to the democratic institutions of the United States.
###
Common Defense is a grassroots, veteran-led organization that was founded in 2016. We empower veterans to stand up for our communities against the rising tide of racism, hate, and violence, to organize against the entrenched powers that have rigged our economy, and to champion an equitable and representative democracy, where “liberty and justice” truly is for all. For too long, politicians from both political parties have attempted to use veterans as unwilling political props, and Common Defense serves as a home for veterans to organize and speak for themselves and support the candidates who truly share our values.