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.
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.