Posted on October 31, 2021

Lincoln Project Says It’s Behind Group With Tiki Torches by Youngkin Campaign Bus During Charlottesville Event

Madison McNamee, NBC 29, October 29, 2021

A rare visit by Republican gubernatorial candidate Glenn Youngkin in Charlottesville is being overshadowed by an incident that occurred outside a campaign stop.

Now, the Lincoln Project says it is behind the incident.

Youngkin made a stop at Guadalajara’s East Main Street location early Friday, October 29. While he was inside, several people stood with Tiki torches next to Youngkin’s campaign bus outside the restaurant.

Tiki torches were used by many white supremist who marched on UVA Grounds August 11, 2017, the day before the Unite the Right rally in Charlottesville. Jason Kessler, who is listed as an organizer of the rally in federal lawsuit, carried a Tiki torch while participating in that march.

{snip}

The Lincoln Project put out a statement late in the afternoon, saying in part, “Today’s demonstration was our way of reminding Virginians what happened in Charlottesville four years ago, the Republican Party’s embrace of those values, and Glenn Youngkin’s failure to condemn it.”

Earlier in the day – before the Lincoln Project released its statement – NBC had asked about Youngkin about the incident. He said, “I think they work for Terry McAuliffe, and I’m sure he sent them.”

The candidate continued, “They’ll do anything to win, and he’s doing anything to win, and so he’s paying people to show up and act silly at our rallies.”

McAuliffe’s team denied the accusation, telling NBC29 in a statement, “This was not us or anyone affiliated with our campaign.”

{snip}