A Democratic Women’s club announced their plans to protest against the Pensacola Republican congressman who wants to eliminate the EPA. I hardly have the mental bandwidth to process all the crazy:
But Gaetz’s upcoming tour of his constituency may be the first time a major counter protest has been planned.
“I need all patriots in attendance to protect Congressman Gaetz from any potential disruption of his speech,” Geoff Ross, the purported militia leader, wrote in a call-out on his private Facebook page. “Concealed carry permit holders most welcome – don’t forget your ammo.”
That last part read like a veiled threat to the Escambia County Democratic Women’s Club, which has used social media to publicize its intention to protest Gaetz. Last week, the club hired an off-duty police officer to guard its 75-person monthly meeting after the group said Ross threatened to come, bearing guns. The women reported Ross to the local sheriff and police departments, and some have lambasted Gaetz on Facebook for refusing to condemn the threats. But Evalyn Narramore, chair of the Escambia County Democratic Party, isn’t backing down.
“My husband jokes and says, ‘I’m going to buy you a Kevlar vest,’” Narramore, who has worked in local Democratic politics for 19 years, told The Huffington Post by phone last week. “But we decided we aren’t going to let this guy scare us away if that’s what he thinks he’s doing. We’re going to go forward with our protest as planned.”
The Milton Police Department and Santa Rosa County Sheriff’s Office, who police the area where Grover T’s BBQ is located, did not return calls requesting comment.
Neither Gaetz nor Ross responded to repeated calls and emails requesting comment. But the newly sworn-in lawmaker, an ardent Trump supporter who emulates the president’s off-the-cuff tone on social media, brushed off calls to condemn Ross, whom he called a “friend” in a Facebook post.
