North Country protests emerge with calls for Stefanik's resignation

PLATTSBURGH | Within hours of Republican U.S. Rep. Elise Stefanik's objections during the Joint Session of Congress electoral ballot count, protests and calls for her resignation have popped up across the North Country. Following a volatile night at the U.S. Capitol, Stefanik took to the House floor to condemn the violence and moved forward with preannounced plans to object to electors in Pennsylvania, Georgia, Wisconsin, and Michigan. The following morning, her objections fueled numerous protests across the region, including in downtown Plattsburgh and Glens Falls as the Essex County Democratic Committee now calls for her immediate resignation. "NY-21 Representative Elise Stefanik was one of those who continued to attack the Constitution even after the mob attempted to destroy our legally elected government," Essex County Democratic Chair Margaret Bartley said in an open letter condemning Stefanik's objections Jan. 7. "Congresswoman Stefanik insinuated that the dedicated citizens, of both parties, who worked the election, failed in their duty. She is wrong and she knows this is a false attempt by the current President to hold onto power. By objecting to the certification of the Electoral College, Stefanik attempted to overturn the will of American voters." Bartley said the objection "was a betrayal of the oath she took to uphold our Constitution. "I call on my fellow New Yorkers to demand that Elise Stefanik, who has committed an egregious violation of her Oath of Office, to immediately resign as the representative of New York -21." Essex County Republican Chair John Gereau supported Stefanik's right to ask questions about the November election. "Why shouldn't Elise have the right to question voting irregularities in the country," he said. "I don't think that is a partisan issue, I think there are people on both sides who have those questions. I think Elise has the thumb on the pulse of her constituents in the North Country, and I think that was shown by how easily she beat her opponent in November." Gereau also joined Stefanik in condemning the actions that were taken at the Capitol. "(Elise) was one of the first to condemn what happened on the Capitol grounds," he said. "None of us wanted to see what happened last night. Neither party is going to say that was the correct way to handle the issue. I think we are all appalled by what happened not only last night, but over the past summer with the looting and rioting that was going on in our inner cities." By midday, organized protests across the North Country emerged in solidarity to condemn the move. Protestors, urged to maintain non-violence and social distancing, gathered near Stefanik's offices in Plattsburgh, Glens Falls and Watertown to also call for her resignation while bearing signs that read "Democracy Over Party", "Stop Fueling Domestic Terrorism" and "Respect the Voter's Choice" among other calls for action. Former Democratic challenger to the NY-21 seat, Tedra Cobb, helped spearhead the Jan. 7 protests as she encouraged constituents to call and write Stefanik, local media and Republican leaders to denounce the efforts of Stefanik and "any others who have incited this insurrection." "Call upon them to send a clear message in reiterating the legitimacy of the election and to admonish those who call it into question," Cobb said in a social media post ahead of the midday protests. Two hours before Congress was set to count electoral votes Jan. 6, community members from across Essex County and beyond delivered a letter signed by more than 1,700 residents of the 21st District calling for Stefanik to honor the results of the presidential election. The letter- delivered by local artist and historian Nell Painter; attorney Thomas Terrizzi and Martha Swan, a teacher and Executive Director of John Brown Lives!- called for Stefanik to "prioritize the needs of her constituents and denounce the shenanigans that threaten our democratic institutions" a press release read.

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North Country protests emerge with calls for Stefanik's resignation

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