Across the state, thousands of North Carolinians gathered to protest against Republican Judge Jefferson Griffin’s attempt to overturn election results in the state Supreme Court race.
The rallies, titled “The People v. Griffin”, were put on by Common Cause NC and held in over 16 cities and towns.
Several organizations including Democracy NC, Forward Justice, and Emancipate NC partnered with Common Cause NC to highlight the 65,500 votes Griffin wants to be thrown out as part of his challenge.
“We are protesting that he is holding this up,” Cathy Walsh with Common Cause NC, told WLOS. “It has cost thousands of dollars for each of the 100 counties in the state, the number of hours that have been wasted, it’s just disgraceful.”
North Carolinians held signs saying, “Stop The Coup!”, “Shame on Griffin”, and “Count Every Vote”, while underscoring the impact of Republicans attempting to disenfranchise voters.
“Someone is trying to actually cancel some votes that people legally cast after legally registering, and that’s stealing democracy away from us,” Roxanne Taylor, from Nash County, told WUNC.
Griffin, the GOP candidate for the state Supreme Court seat, is trying to throw out over 65, 500 ballots cast during the November elections. He’s targeting military service members, early voters, and mail-in ballots.
Numerous reports show that Griffin’s challenge disproportionately impacts voters from Democrat-leaning counties, Black and Brown communities, and young North Carolinians.
After two recounts, election officials confirmed that North Carolinians voted for Justice Allison Riggs by a margin of 734 votes. Just last week, a Wake County judge ruled against the egregious attempt to throw out ballots, however, Griffin is appealing the court’s decision.
“Let it go, bro. It’s time to go home. There will be options and opportunities in the future,” Gino Nuzzolillo with Common Cause NC, told ABC11. “To try to disenfranchise 65,000 of your neighbors is disgraceful.”
More than three months after the November elections, this is the only unresolved statewide election.
