Today, immigrants and immigration advocates gathered at Sen. Rob Portman’s campaign offices in Cleveland and Columbus to deliver petitions calling on the him to reject all campaign funds raised in Donald Trump’s name.
Why is @robportman accepting campaign support from sale of Trump merch? Ohioans want him to #dumptrump pic.twitter.com/okWPCDkKwQ
— tramontela (@tramontela) January 11, 2016
Delivering petition from 400 Ohioans telling @robportman to #DumpTrump @donmarlin @americasvoice @mhildreth pic.twitter.com/M2hDEXg0aS
— tramontela (@tramontela) January 11, 2016
According to a recent report in Buzzfeed, the National Republican Senatorial Committee has been using Trump memorabilia to attract donors since early May. Among those campaigns benefiting from those donations is that of Senator Rob Portman.
Participants in the petition deliveries placed “I’m With Trump” stickers on the headquarters’ doors, challenging Sen. Portman and his staff to answer for the NRSC funds.
Campaign officials removed the sticker from the office door in Cleveland almost immediately.
30 mins later, @robportman campaign door missing something. Are we making progress? Will Portman finally #DumpTrump? pic.twitter.com/o0x4oMTPQI
— tramontela (@tramontela) January 11, 2016
Meanwhile, advocates delivering petitions in Columbus were not even allowed to pass through the door:
@robportman refuses to talk to voters about receiving money raised from this bumper sticker #dumptrump #ohpol pic.twitter.com/npUg21jUKk — Matt Hildreth (@mhildreth) January 11, 2016
This @robportman staffer kicked out #Ohio voters when they tried to ask abt Portman’s support of #Trump #ohpol #2016 pic.twitter.com/ijFcV5aFuO — Anne_H_J (@anne_h_j) January 11, 2016
A video compilation of petition deliveries to both offices is available to watch below:
“It means nothing for Senator Portman to denounce racist remarks by Donald Trump if the Senator is going to then fundraise on his name and vote for him if he becomes the nominee,” said Lynn Tramonte, Director of Ohio’s Voice.
“For someone who is running to represent our state’s values, Senator Portman should know better and should correct this mistake now by rejecting any funds raised in Trump’s name.”
