Democratic leaders slam Republican agenda before Fayetteville Trump rally

Fayetteville Democratic leaders held a news conference Friday ahead of former president Donald Trump’s campaign visit to the city Friday night.
North Carolina State Senator Val Applewhite, Fayetteville Mayor Mitch Colvin, Pastor Mark Rowden and Fort Liberty spouse Kellie Artis spoke about 10 a.m. at the Cumberland County Democratic Headquarters on Raeford Road. The gathering was organized to “call out” Donald Trump, his vice presidential running mate J.D. Vance, and the Republican nominee for governor, Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson, a news release from the Harris-Walz campaign.
The speakers targeted the Project 2025 agenda; Mark Robinson’s plans for North Carolina; and the dangers of “unchecked power” that a second Trump presidency may bring, including banning abortion nationwide and raising taxes by $4,000 on North Carolina families while giving tax breaks to the rich, according to the release.
“These leaders are sending a clear message: the Harris-Walz ticket is the only choice for North Carolinians looking for leaders to take them forward instead of dragging them into the past,” the release said.
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Applewhite slammed Trump and Robinson’s support for “near-total abortion bans” and “disrespect of veterans and military families.”
“Donald Trump is not — is not, is not — the right leader for Fayetteville. He has tried to cut benefits (that vets) earned at every turn when he was in office and he thinks that fallen service members are suckers and losers,” Applewhite said. “Donald Trump also threatens the very democracy and constitution that veterans like myself defended. Let’s remember how far Trump was willing to go to cling onto power.”
Applewhite went on to say Trump refused to concede the 2020 election; spread “bogus conspiracy theories” about a stolen election; tried to “pressure” election officials “to find votes”; and “encouraged an angry mob to march on the Capitol on Jan. 6 “where they violently assaulted police officers” and attempted to prevent the peaceful transfer of power.
“And just this week on the debate stage, we saw his running mate J.D. Vance refuse — he absolutely refused to admit that Trump lost the 2020 election,” she said.
Mayor Colvin said that Trump left Fayetteville and other communities out to dry during his presidency and failed to address the coronavirus pandemic, which led to economic fallout.
“There’s a clear choice in this election. Fayetteville residents cannot afford another Trump presidency, nor can it afford his handpicked candidate for governor Mark Robinson … Both are too extreme to be elected,” he said.
When families and businesses in Fayetteville were struggling during the COVID-19 pandemic “there was no clear leadership coming out of Washington” under the Trump administration, he said.
“Trump tanked the economy because of mishandling of the pandemic… Trump’s poor leadership during such a critical time caused many beloved Fayetteville businesses to close and Fayetteville residents to lose their homes and their lives,” Colvin said.
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“Trump left our communities out to dry as President, and he’ll do even worse in a second term with his nearly $4,000 tax hike on working families. “In November, we’ll reject the Trump-Robinson’s extreme Project 2025 agenda,” he said
Pastor Rowden said that the Project 2025 agenda would threaten Social Security and slash Medicare and Medicaid.
“As someone who fought for our country and our freedoms, and as a faith leader, I know that our community deserves better than a second Trump presidency. That’s why in November, we will reject Trump, Robinson, and their Project 2025 agenda,” Rowden said.
Military spouse Artis argued Trump has no respect for democracy and the sacrifices made by those who protect our freedom.
“Trump endorsed and has stood alongside Mark Robinson, who boasted of being a Nazi, parrots his election lies, and praises dictators. Fortunately, we have another choice in November by electing Vice President Harris and Governor Walz, who will always put the country before themselves,” she said.
Public safety reporter Joseph Pierre can be reached at [email protected].