Tea Party Patriots co-founder Jenny Beth Martin joined members of the Georgia Freedom Caucus on Thursday, including State Senator Colton Moore (R-Trenton) and State Representative Charlice Byrd (R-Woodstock), for a rally and press conference in support of Moore’s petition calling for Governor Brian Kemp (R) to call a special session to defund or impeach Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis.
Martin, the honorary chairman of Tea Party Patriots Action, said Willis’s indictment of former President Donald Trump and 18 individuals who helped contest the 2020 election was “wrong,” and stressed that “now is the time for courage” from voters. Martin and the legislators were joined by former State Representative Alveda King, VoterGA co-founder Garland Favorito, conservative radio host Brian Pritchard, and a collection of conservative activists.
“We’re here today to right a wrong,” said Martin at the Caucus for the Cause rally at Freedom Plaza in Atlanta after urging more Georgia legislators to demand a special session.
She continued, “When the district attorney indicted 19 people… for trying to make sure our election was fair, she was wrong. When she said people who followed the advice of their legal counsel to ensure a free and fair election were actually engaging in a conspiracy to overthrow the election, she was wrong. When she said people could not exercise their First Amendment rights to free speech and to petition their government for redress of grievances, she was wrong.”
Caucus for the Cause – Rally at State Capitol for a Special Session Now! https://t.co/bFAHaE5CeE
— Tea Party Patriots (@TPPatriots) September 7, 2023
Martin, who co-founded the Tea Party Patriots in 2009, said Willis’s indictment was meant to “scare” grassroots activists and voters and persuade them to leave politics.
“They are doing this because they want to scare you” to the point where “you’ll stop gathering together with your like minded countrymen” will “no longer express your concerns about an overbearing government,” and will give up on working for “free, and fair, and transparent” elections.
“What they are doing is frightening, but now is the time for courage,” said Martin. “Now is the time to speak louder, now is the time to gather in greater numbers, and now is the time to raise your concerns, now is the time to get involved in the election process so we can secure the vote and we can win elections in 2024 and hold these freedom thieves accountable.”
She underscored that Willis “must be defunded, and an investigation must ensue, and if that investigation leads to impeachment, then so be it.”
Moore, who faced fierce rebukes from both colleagues and leadership in Georgia’s legislature, and was called a “grifter” by Governor Brian Kemp (R), defended the special session petition during the press conference, highlighting alleged hypocrisy from Kemp and Republicans in the legislature who say a special session would be a waste of tax money.
Calling the suggestion “embarrassing,” Moore added, “My constituents believe Fani Willis is a waste of taxpayer money.”
Caucus for the Cause – Special Session Now! https://t.co/IEY1VzLkEj
— Tea Party Patriots (@TPPatriots) September 7, 2023
After noting the lack of support for a special session in the Georgia House while speaking at the rally, Byrd urged those in attendance to contact their representatives.
“No one under that Capitol has come out other than Colton and me,” said Byrd, “That is it, out of 102 Republican House members, I am the only one. Make sure you let them know that you are upset, and they should be signing on to the petition as Colton and I have.”
Byrd added, “We cannot let our state become a state of rogue systems. We need to defund, and eventually if appropriate, to impeach Fani Willis.”
Moore reiterated the message before the rally audience, urging them to ask their representatives, “Where do you draw your line in the stand?”
“Right now Fani Willis is spending millions of our taxpayer dollars to take on political prisoners, the most un-American thing we’ve ever seen in our lifetimes,” said Moore, “So ask them, where do you draw a line in the sand?”
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Tom Pappert is the lead reporter for The Georgia Star News and a reporter for the Arizona Sun Times. Follow Tom on X/Twitter. Email tips to [email protected].
Photo “Tea Party Patriots Georgia Event” by Tea Party Patriots.
