CD1 Holds Rob Wittman Accountable

The intersection of Cox and Broad was bustling with chants, car horns, and signs as a group rallied together to protest Congressman Rob Wittman (R VA1) on Saturday. Organized by Henrico County Democrats and other organizations across CD1, constituents gathered to stand against Representative Wittman’s recent votes to cut medicaid, SNAP, and protect tax breaks for billionaires. Dissatisfaction with Wittman was clear throughout the assembly as protesters lined Broad Street, waving to the honking cars and lifting up homemade signs.

My conversations with the attendees centered around Wittman, but quickly evolved into larger discussions about the current administration and the significance of protests. Many involved with the protest felt frustrated and disheartened at Rob Wittman’s support of legislation that could impact everyday Americans. His votes in affirmative for cuts to federal programs and taxes for billionaires weighed on the crowd, and multiple people brought up his refusal to communicate with his constituents in person. Call and response chants were featured heavily during the gathering, compiling the public’s concerns into catchy cadences. “What do we want? Representation! When do we want it? Now!” and “Hey hey ho ho Rob Wittman has got to go” were repeated among the throng. A few people I spoke with shared the sentiment that the rally probably wouldn’t be enough to enact change in Wittman, but instead focused on the importance of building community and awareness.

I had a conversation with Felix, an attendee who sported an American flag on a pole. He discussed the importance of forming a coalition of people who come together, despite differences in opinion, to advocate for change and support one another. He stressed the concept of community, citing leaders like Martin Luther King Jr. and Mahatma Gandhi who united people in the face of injustice. When asked about his flag, he talked about patriotism, and how in his eyes, nothing this administration and Representative Wittman support is American.

Across the street, a similar scene took place; but this time, the flag was upside down. Steven, waving the red white and blue, talked about the meaning behind his gesture. It’s a distress signal, he explained. We discussed the current political and social climate, and he was convinced the upside down flag was an apt symbol for the state of America. Steven asserted that protests like these were essential in this day and age.

Further down the street, Jeremy wore a green American flag hat, with words written in sharpie scrawled across the fabric. Duty, empathy, freedom, humanity; he pointed them out to me, explaining some of the meaning behind more of the words and symbols. He talked about history, providing context and his thoughts on social change throughout time. Protesting helps him spiritually, he said. If no one else was out here, he would still show up.

The last notable conversation I’ll share was with a college student, Chloe. She held a sign with the slogan, “Rob Wittman is a” followed by a cartoon chicken, and said that the rally was important to hold Wittman accountable. An attendee of several protests, she commented that getting out and getting involved helped her feel like she was actually doing something. She noted the importance of these types of events, and how she hoped to see even bigger crowds in the future.

Broad street was alive with cries for change Saturday. If there was a theme for the event, it would be community action. The group was a bustling, chanting, conversational crowd, all of whom seemed excited to make their voices heard and be surrounded by those with aligned goals. Here’s hoping Congressman Wittman gets the message.