Coalition Of Veterans Groups Rally In Greensboro: Protest Against Trump And MAGA Extremism Outside GOP State Convention

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: May 24, 2024

GREENSBORO, N.C. — Veterans from a broad coalition gathered at a solemn Memorial Day commemoration on Friday at Greensboro’s Guilford Courthouse National Military Park, highlighting the threats to American democracy posed by former President Donald Trump. 

Key to their message was a demand that Trump, the Republican National Committee, and NCGOP pledge to support a peaceful and nonviolent election season after Trump’s threats of violence around the 2024 election, the Jan.6 insurrection, and his statements to be a ‘dictator on day one’ if he is elected. 

Veterans and North Carolinians are uniting to make clear: threats of violence, voter intimidation, and violent rhetoric have no place in our democracy and go against the values that veterans have sworn and given their lives to defend.

Veterans selected Greensboro to stand against MAGA Republicans’ extremist policies because N.C. Republicans are holding their annual state convention there, in addition to the state housing America’s largest military facility (Fort Liberty/Bragg). Speakers at the Republican event—which began yesterday—were echoing the former President’s lies about the legitimacy of U.S. elections and his refusal to commit to accepting this year’s results throughout Memorial Day Weekend. 

After the Memorial Day commemoration, veterans traveled to the convention center hosting the NCGOP convention. There, they attempted to secure a pledge from party officials to commit to a non-violent election season and renounce the violent rhetoric currently undermining citizens' confidence in our electoral process. Hundreds of NCGOP Delegates booed as veteran leaders attempted to deliver a letter outlining the pledge. Simultaneously veterans engaged in a peaceful protest to visibly and proudly decry Trump’s candidacy as well as Republicans’ startling lack of concern of how his lies and actions erode our nation’s democratic principles and values. [photos of rally and protest linked HERE. Full URL below].

Trump’s unpopularity among veterans in North Carolina has been on display at protests earlier this year in Greensboroand Wilmington. Friday’s gathering attracted a crowd of more than 50 veterans and military family members, with the organizations involved counting more than 5,500 supporters across the state. It is fitting that veterans are rising to meet this threat in a city that has a long history of fighting for civil rights and defending the freedoms all Americans hold dear. 

This Memorial Day, as veterans who have sworn to defend the Constitution, we urge all North Carolinians and all Americans to honor those who sacrificed their lives to defend America: we must all reject any rhetoric or actions that threaten the foundations of our democracy.

“Veterans and our fallen brothers and sisters, whom we honor today, fought battles abroad so we can live in a country free of such threats,” said Dan Barkhuff, Annapolis graduate, retired Navy SEAL and founder of Veterans For Responsible Leadership. “Now Trump says there may be a bloodbath if he loses an election. Violence and intimidation are not tools to be used in our political system.”

Polls during the 2020 election found veterans and active-duty service members less inclined to vote Republican than in past contests. Reasons cited included Trump’s unprecedented disrespect for military service and perceived erratic behavior regarding national security.  

“This is a former Commander-in-chief who insults combat veteran John McCain for being a prisoner of war, calls soldiers who died at war ‘suckers’ and ‘losers’, and dodged service in Vietnam,” added Barkhuff.

“For North Carolinians, enough is enough. This movement of veterans and our families is emblematic of the broader movement within our state. As veterans who have been sent into harm’s way for our country we refuse to see the rights we served to defend continue to be threatened,” said Ted Spencer, Navy veteran, NC native and policy analyst for Common Defense. “Trump, Robinson, and the NC GOP are all alike: they care more about protecting themselves and consolidating their own power at the expense of our freedoms and democracy. We saw the chaos that unleashed on Jan 6. We can’t let Trump or his MAGA extremist surrogates lead our nation or our state.” 

PHOTOS/VIDEO OF RALLY AND PROTEST:

drive.google.com/drive/folders/1uZOGJa664UfixCwtH9mnEHINFpq_HU7B?usp=share_link  

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—Veterans For Responsible Leadership is a nonpartisan volunteer organization founded in 2017 and dedicated to supporting political candidates who conduct themselves with integrity, civility, and courage. 

—Common Defense is a grassroots, veteran-led organization founded in 2016 to serve as a home for veterans to organize and speak for themselves and support the candidates who genuinely share our values.