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A rally will be held in Anniston, Alabama today at 5:30 to demand accountability for former U.S. President Donald Trump and his co-conspirators for their alleged election fraud propaganda inciting the Jan. 6 insurrection.
The event is part of a nationwide collection of rallies occurring on the same day of Trump’s historic arraignment. On Tuesday, Trump was indicted by a federal grand jury on 4 charges including conspiracy to defraud the United States; a conspiracy against the right to vote and have that vote counted; conspiracy to impede the Jan. 6 congressional proceeding; and obstruction of, and attempt to obstruct and impede, the certification of the electoral vote.
APR spoke to Jim Williams, a community volunteer and organizer of the rally, who said the event was significant to demonstrate the dangers of not holding Trump accountable for his actions.
“I’m a 30 year retired Navy officer,” Williams said. “I spent a good portion of my time overseas in places that did not have working democracies and seeing what that looks like. And I don’t want to see that happen here. So holding these rallies is a way of being able to call attention to it.”
Former Vice President Mike Pence, said of Trump/s indictment: “today’s indictment serves as an important reminder: anyone who puts himself over the Constitution should never be President of the United States.”
According to details from the indictment, Trump repeatedly pressured Pence to deny the results of the 2020 election which President Joe Biden won over Trump. Trump even stated that Pence was, “too honest,” when he rejected the idea of denying the election.
The indictment also argues that because of Trump and his allies’ lies his supporters “violently attacked the Capitol and halted the proceeding” on Jan. 6.
However, many Republican or conservative lawmakers, pundits and media outlets routinely promoted the lie that the election was stolen. Some of Trump’s most strident supporters in his initial election fraud claims were Alabama lawmakers including former Rep. Mo Brooks and current U.S. Sen. Tommy Tuberville, R-AL.
Brooks gave an impassioned speech on Jan. 6 at the, “Save America” rally, to the same listeners who would shortly storm the capitol. Brooks in his speech that, “today is the day American patriots start taking down names and kicking ass.” It was also later revealed that Brooks had on body armor during the speech because he was informed it could get violent and it was potentially going to be ANTIFA.
Tuberville was elected in 2020 and quickly gained Trump’s favor by supporting his claims the election was fraudulent. Trump even revealed during a radio interview that prior to the Jan. 6 interview he had spoken with Tuberville about preventing the electoral vote to confirm Biden as the president. On Jan. 6 Trump attempted to call Tuberville as the insurrection unfolded but accidentally contacted Sen. Mike Lee.
Lee ended up passing along the phone to Tuberville who spoke with Trump for 10 minutes. According to reports the conversation was presumably about delaying the congressional confirmation of Biden’s presidency.
The event in Anniston will begin at 812 Noble Street. Those participating will then walk up Noble Street to the parking lot at 12th Street and Noble. James Sledge, a retired federal judge, is expected to speak following the march.
Participants will be expected to be holding signage saying, “Not Above The Law.”
