Former Georgia gubernatorial candidate Stacey Abrams was met by an overflow crowd at the Habersham County Recreation and Aquatic Center in Clarkesville Tuesday evening.
She was in Habersham to speak at a 9th District Democratic Party meeting organized by the Habersham and Dawson County Democratic parties.
Around 300 people turned out to hear Abrams speak. There were only seats for 120 of them. The rest stood in overflow in the lobby outside the meeting room.
About two dozen protesters also showed up, some wore red shirts and hats waving signs in support of President Trump. They were there to protest Abrams’ call for fair elections and her political views. They chanted as Abrams spoke with supporters. At one point, dueling chants of “Trump” and “Stacey” erupted between the two groups. Abrams urged her supporters not to let the noise bother them.
There was a heightened sense of concern among some Democrats going into the meeting. Many Republicans and Abrams critics took to social media ahead of the event to express their displeasure at her appearance in Habersham. Some denounced what they call her “Socialist” views. Others called her a “sore loser.”
Security was tight, primarily because of the personal detail traveling with Abrams. The Democrats hired an off-duty Habersham County Sheriff’s deputy to help with the event.
Allen Haynes says he had a hard time getting into the building. He says he just happened to wear a red shirt and was on his way into the Aquatic Center when a security guard told him he wasn’t allowed. Haynes appealed to the deputy who let him enter. Haynes told Now Habersham he was “guilty by association” because he wore a red shirt – the signature color of Trump supporters.
Tuesday’s political clash in Habersham County comes just three days after a pro-Trump rally in Lumpkin County drew hundreds of anti-Trump protesters to the town square.
Fair Fight 2020
In November 2018, Abrams delayed conceding the governor’s election after reports of voter suppression and malfunctioning voting machines surfaced. She eventually conceded defeat after a 10-day battle.
Since narrowly losing to Republican Brian Kemp, Abrams has spent her time campaigning against alleged voter suppression in Georgia and other states. The Fair Fight Action Team she helped organize promotes fair elections around the country.
The Fair Fight Action Team delivered a presentation during Tuesday night’s meeting outlining their efforts to ensure fair elections.
