JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – A group of protestors gathered outside the Jacksonville office of Representative John Rutherford on Thursday afternoon calling for his resignation.
Some protesters were holding signs calling Rutherford a “traitor.”
“In every way, he is acting like an enemy of the people. He is not acting like an American representative,” said demonstrator Lara Ragunas. “Frankly, I would prefer that he would resign. I think he should resign as someone who has participated in sedition.”
The anger, demonstrators said, stemmed from Rutherford’s response to yesterday’s violent storming of the U.S. Capitol by Pro-Donald Trump rioters.
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On Wednesday night, after the chaos in Washington D.C., Rutherford spoke with News4Jax about the impending Electoral College count. He said he still planned to object to the presidential election results, despite no evidence of widespread voter fraud.
On Twitter, Rutherford condemned the violence at the Capitol and on Thursday he acknowledged President-elect Joe Biden’s win.
But demonstrators said it’s too little, too late.
“He needs to resign. He needs to realize that what he did was very treasonous to our country and damaging to our country,” said Mary McDermott. “And he just has no business representing the people of America.”
At one point, contention boiled over when a counter-protester who declined to give his name began shouting racist rhetoric at the protesters. A short time later, he was asked to leave by JSO officers.
News4Jax reached out to Rutherford asking for a comment on the demonstration but haven’t heard back yet.