Updated as of 9:12 p.m. on Oct. 8 to include video.
Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson filled the Hursey’s Bar-B-Q restaurant in Graham with supporters, local elected officials and law enforcement. Outside the restaurant, a handful of protesters were chanting things such as, “My body, my choice” at Robinson and his supporters.
Robinson, the Republican candidate for the state governor race, spoke to supporters at Hursey’s on Oct. 4. Hursey’s employee Reggie Young said Robinson came to this spot because Hursey’s owner, Charles Hursey, “loves Mark Robinson.”
Robinson said to patrons of the restaurant that politics have become more divided and has led to name calling. He urged supporters to vote — not just for himself, but for Republicans across the ballot, and to ignore the people protesting outside.
“My political opponents called me a radical,” Robinson said. “Folks out there protesting, I don’t know what they are doing out there, aren’t they supposed to be at work or something? Oh wait a minute, they are at work.”
Robinson said he and his supporters may be ridiculed, but they are correct for their anti-abortion opinions and for expressing patriotism by waving an American flag.
A member of the crowd spoke out against Robinson, asking, “Who is going to help support those babies?” In response, Robinson first asked her to be quiet, reminding her that the crowd was there to hear him speak. He then reiterated his supporters to ignore her and other protestors.
“What do you do with a baby that is crying on an airplane?” Robinson said. “You ignore it. Babies are immature and don’t know when to speak.”
James Wheeler came to support the Republican Party and said he feels the media has spread lies about Robinson. Wheeler was wearing a shirt showing former President Donald Trump after he was shot in Pennsylvania this summer. Trump will be speaking in Pennsylvania today, and Wheeler said he is a brave man for returning.
“Alamance County and North Carolina needs a great governor,” Wheeler said. “We have a do-nothing governor right now, and I think Mark Robinson will be great for North Carolina.”
Republican Terry Johnson, Alamance County’s sheriff, was there as security, and said he would be there as security for any candidate — no matter the party. However, Johnson told Elon News Network he does agree with Robinson politically.
“I’d like to keep who I support to myself — I’ll say it, I support Mark Robinson,” Johnson said.
Johnson said the event went well and he was glad over 100 people in Alamance County had an opportunity to see Robinson.
Theresa Draughn came to the event to protest Robinson as he doesn’t believe in facts or science, she said.
“I think it’s absolutely disgusting that our elected officials in Alamance County are here with him,” Draughn said. “With someone that has a track record of not believing in things like the Holocaust and trying to take our abortion care away.”
Draughn had earrings with the word “vote” on them and does political work for a living. Earlier in the event, she yelled phrases directed toward Robinson, such as, “You’re not a Christian” and, “You don’t have my vote.” Draughn said she wanted to encourage people to vote for the Democratic governor candidate.
“Vote for Josh Stein if you want to save North Carolina,” Draughn said.
Robinson told supporters not to only vote for him, but to vote for all Republicans, from the presidential race to county commissioners.
“This is a simple proposition, go to the ballot, get your ballot, find the R’s and push every one of them,” Robinson said.