Photos: Protesters Tell Pence To 'Go Away' Outside Illinois GOP Fundraiser
By aaroncynic in News on Dec 30, 2016 8:50PM
More than 100 people demonstrated outside the Chicago Club in the Loop midday Friday where Vice President Elect Mike Pence attended a fundraiser the Illinois GOP held for the Republican National Committee.
Demonstrators, who chanted “Racist, sexist, anti-gay—Mike Pence go away” began to line the barricades shortly after Pence was ushered through a back door away from the front sidewalks.
"Racist sexist anti gay, Mike #Pence go away" #twill pic.twitter.com/GlLvRh2IcZ
— Aaron Cynic (@aaroncynic) December 30, 2016
“No one who doesn’t have a vagina has any business talking about vaginas,” said Betty Holcolmb, a board member for the Coalition for Reproductive Choice. “I will fight forever for reproductive rights, for women to be able to control their bodies.”
Marie Cobb, a senior citizen, told the crowd she came to speak out against Pence and Trump over fears of what the new administration could do to gut social services for seniors and people with disabilities.
“Some people are saying we should give them a chance,” said Cobb. “I don’t understand that—with all the people he’s appointing to his cabinet, we know exactly what the plan is.”
“The biggest thing we’re trying to get out to people is that we are going to need to fight,” said John Beacham of the ANSWER Coaltion. “We are gonna organize and unite and protect immigrants, Muslims, women, people of color, LGBTQ people, the environment, the disabled and, honestl,y the list goes on and on.”
While the fundraiser, which began at $2,700 a ticket, was not attended by Gov. Bruce Rauner, his name was listed on the host committee along with several other prominent Illinois Republicans. According to the Chicago Tribune, an official said the event was expected to raise between $500,000 and $1 million.
Meanwhile outside, at least one person was doing some fundraising of their own. Veep look-alike Mike Hot-Pence was on hand wearing a blue suit and shorts collecting money for Planned Parenthood. “I read about two weeks ago Mike Pence was planning a big fundraiser,” said the New York native. “While a lot of us have been licking our wounds for the past 8 weeks he’s been planning and mobilizing. He certainly has his eye on the 2018 and 2020 races so I thought it was important to get out here today to raise some awareness and dollars for causes and people he’s abandoned.
Mike Hot #Pence now collecting donations for Planned Parenthood outside Rauner hosted fundraiser for GOP in Chicago #twill pic.twitter.com/MGmu5dh5gL
— Aaron Cynic (@aaroncynic) December 30, 2016