Pro-Recall Protests as Biden Campaigns for Newsom Rally
Protests broke out on the evening before the election results as President Joe Biden and Gov. Gavin Newsom campaigned.
On Monday, Sept. 13, President Biden paid a visit to Long Beach City College the evening prior to the recall election of California Gov. Gavin Newsom. He encouraged voters to reject the Republican recall and advocated for his “Build Back Better” initiative. Attendance at the rally was invite-only. Critics of Newsom and Biden were left to protest on the streets outside of the campus.
California Governor Gavin Newsom speaks at his recall election rally on Saturday, September 5, 2021 at Culver City High School in Culver City, California. (Maxim Elramsisy | The Corsair)
Hundreds came clad with “Blue Lives Matter” flags, “Make America Great Again” caps, and sported signs reading “Trump Won'' and “The Pandemic is Communism.” Long-time Long Beach resident Bernard Gizzy, who attended the gathering, said “Biden’s bringing the country down. They’re shutting down all the businesses, and making us get the vaccine.”
Onlookers, Autumn Mallette and Nova Tryk, said they were targeted by the crowd for wearing their face coverings.
After the Biden motorcade began its journey from the college to the airport, two staff members of The Corsair and another journalist were tailed, verbally assaulted and physically attacked during a two-block trek back to their vehicles. Many in the crowd targeted the journalists by their facemasks, saying “take off your mask.” Ten to Fifteen protesters hurled empty cans, trash and street cones at the journalists, shouting slurs and threats captured in an audio recording, “You’re filth. You are going to die from your vaccine, mark my words. Your kids will suffer. Burn in hell.” These attacks resulted in no serious injuries.
In the safety of the school building, Gov. Newsom acknowledged the wildfires which are currently ravaging much of the state, discussed the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic, and urged Californians to vote no in tomorrow’s recall election. To conclude, he said that “Trumpism is still on the ballot.”
“The eyes of the Nation are on California,” Biden addressed voters, doubling down on Newsom’s closing sentiments. Biden criticized leading Republican candidate Larry Elder, saying “He’s the clone of Donald Trump. Can you imagine him being Governor of this state? You can’t let that happen.”
Larry Elder, Newsom’s biggest challenger, is a conservative talk show personality. He is well-known for his vow to lift the current California public health mandates. Elder had already begun contesting the election results as fraud, declaring they point to a Newsom victory. He went as far as to launch a website “Stop CA Fraud” wherein he perpetuates the unfounded claim. He cites “statistical analysis,” though no analysis is yet possible given the votes were still uncounted.
Protester Don Kay tended to an approximately 8 foot tall, 12 foot wide “Proud Boys” banner and warned of election meddling. He said “They found out earlier today that there might be fraud in this election too ... we have to fight this. It is the fall of our republic.”
There is currently no evidence to support the claim that widespread voter fraud has taken place in this recall election. This political strategy, which has become increasingly popular in Republican circles, started with Donald Trump’s infamous “Big Lie” allegations surrounding the 2020 presidential election results which ultimately lead to the Jan. 6 insurrection on the US Capitol.
