Democratic state legislator Vernon Jones, the first elected Democrat to endorse President Trump in 2020 is about to introduce a bill that would make attacking Trump supporters a hate crime. For that he has suffered the wrath of the other Democrats in Georgia. He had planned to resign in April but his constituents rallied around him and convinced him too change his mind.
Jones said:
“I’ve watched countless videos of Trump supporters getting attacked in the streets simply due to their support of @realDonaldTrump. Let’s call this what this is: a hate crime. And as we return to the legislature next week, I’ll be introducing legislation that’ll make it such.”
“When I started receiving the overwhelming amount of support and outcry from the people that I represent in House District 91 in DeKalb and Rockdale counties, my fellow Georgians, and fellow Americans from across this country in every walk of life, every age, every color, every party — that was emotional, and that was motivational.”
I’ve watched countless videos of Trump supporters getting attacked in the streets simply due to their support of @realDonaldTrump.
Let’s call this what this is: a hate crime. And as we return to the legislature next week, I’ll be introducing legislation that’ll make it such.
— Vernon Jones (@RepVernonJones) June 9, 2020
Jones became the first elected Democrat in the state to endorse Trump’s reelection last year, citing the president’s work for the black community.
Jones’ decision to endorse the president earned him intense backlash from Democrats in the state. Georgia Democratic Party chair and state Sen. Nikema Williams has called Jones “an embarrassment to the Democratic Party.” An organization formed by Democratic former Georgia gubernatorial candidate Stacey Abrams has pledged to support Jones’ primary opponent.
Jones initially planned to step down from the state legislature in late April before changing his mind, saying he was inspired by the “overwhelming amount of support” from some of his constituents.