ADVERTISEMENT

    Protesters Rally at Statehouse, Electors Cast Votes for Trump

    In a failed final attempt to keep President-elect Donald Trump from becoming President Donald Trump, Columbus residents gathered Monday at the statehouse to protest. It was part of a nationwide day of action led by the December 19 Coalition and other progressive groups.

    ADVERTISEMENT

    Carlos Buford, from Democracy Spring, said that although all of Ohio’s 18 electors upheld their votes for Trump, it was good for people to show their discontent with the process and with recent revelations of Russia’s interference in the presidential election.

    “I think that was more important than anything was just bringing awareness to it,” Buford said. “We know what’s going on. We know what’s happening behind closed doors, and we’re asking them, ‘Please take a look at this.’”

    The ultimate goal varied among protesters. Some had hopes the electors would switch their votes to another candidate. Others wished for total abstention, aiming to send the vote to the US House of Representatives. After receiving CIA intelligence briefings, Congress (with a Republican majority) would make a more informed decision on the country’s next president.

    “We don’t think it made a big difference as far as getting 37 extra republicans to sway away from Trump,” Buford said. “It’s kind of unfortunate, but we was just hoping the electors at least have a change of heart in the way that they really stand for what’s right.”

    Beyond Russian influence on this year’s election, Buford said Democracy Spring and other protestors were there to challenge the entire Republican platform, which he said was defined by racism and xenophobia. As a black man in the US, Buford said he doesn’t feel represented or that anyone on the other side is willing to “stand for what’s right.” While progressives and civil rights groups were fighting for “what’s right” throughout the campaign, Buford feels the point never resonated.

    The day’s electoral vote was anticlimactic. Trump’s victory was upheld by an electoral vote count surpassing 270. In fact, based on a tweet from NPR, more electors tried to defect from Hilary Clinton than from Trump.

    “I’m very disheartened,” Buford said. “It’s obvious we have some very big problems in America, where if we cannot stand up for what’s right, then we need to sit down and come to the table and figure out, how are we going to move forward?”

    Don’t forget to subscribe to Columbus Underground on YouTube for more Video Updates:

    Video by Chuck Merbitz, provided by Nancy Merbitz.

    ADVERTISEMENT

    Subscribe

    More to Explore:

    Ohio Weather is Getting Weirder. Is It Time to Talk About Climate Change?

    For two years running, Ohio has seen what used to be rare February tornadoes, followed by a deadly outbreak just last week. But news coverage of the twisters almost completely omitted any mention of climate change.

    Demand Grows for Ohio’s Private School Voucher Program

    There have been more than 91,100 applications for Ohio’s private school voucher expansion program so far this school year — a dramatic increase compared to previous years. 

    Will Ohio Ever End Gerrymandering?

    Some of the leaders of a campaign to reform redistricting in Ohio say the process of drawing districts may be complicated, but making necessary changes to end gerrymandering isn’t: “Political insiders have no business being in the process.”

    Ohio Colleges Impacted by Supreme Court’s Anti-Diversity Ruling

    At least seven Ohio public universities are reviewing scholarships in the wake of comments Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost made about race-based scholarships after the U.S. Supreme Court ruled against race-conscious admissions. 

    Fracking! Coming Soon to a State Park Near You

    The Ohio Oil and Gas Land Management Commission picked the “highest and best” bidders to lease parts of a state park and two wildlife areas for fracking Monday.
    Lauren Sega
    Lauren Segahttps://columbusunderground.com
    Lauren Sega is the former Associate Editor for Columbus Underground and a current freelance writer for CU. She covers political issues on the local and state levels, as well as local food and restaurant news. She grew up near Cleveland, graduated from Ohio University's Scripps School of Journalism, and loves running, traveling and hiking.
    ADVERTISEMENT