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For Immediate Release
Contact:

David Vance, (202) 736-5712, dvance@commoncause.org

Hundreds of Protests Nationwide Call for Protecting Mueller Russia Investigation & Recusal of Acting A.G. Whitaker

Tonight, in hundreds of cities and towns across the nation, hundreds of thousands of Americans took to the streets in protest to defend Special Counsel Robert Mueller's investigation of Russia's attacks on the 2016 presidential race. Protesters demanded that the investigation proceed without interference and stressed that acting Attorney General Matthew Whitaker immediately recuse himself from overseeing the investigation in light of his own conflicts of interest.

WASHINGTON

Tonight, in hundreds of cities and towns across the nation, hundreds of thousands of Americans took to the streets in protest to defend Special Counsel Robert Mueller's investigation of Russia's attacks on the 2016 presidential race. Protesters demanded that the investigation proceed without interference and stressed that acting Attorney General Matthew Whitaker immediately recuse himself from overseeing the investigation in light of his own conflicts of interest.

The protests took place in major cities and small towns alike from coast-to-coast. Large events unfolded in the nation's largest cities like Boston, New York, Philadelphia, Chicago, Los Angeles, San Francisco and Seattle. But activists came out in large numbers from Ft. Lauderdale, FL, Raleigh, NC, Asbury Park, NJ, and Bangor ME to Madison WI, Kingsville, TX, Albuquerque, NM, Salt Lake City, UT, and Oahu, HI.

"If you have any doubt about the resiliency of our democracy - especially in the wake of a bruising election - then go type in #ProtectMueller on Twitter and you will be heartened and inspired by the pictures and videos of protests across the country," said Common Cause President Karen Hobert Flynn. "I was lucky enough to speak in front of an impassioned crowd across from the White House tonight and I saw and felt firsthand the passion and the energy Americans are bringing to bear to protect our democracy at this critical juncture in our nation's history."

"I know firsthand how exhausted activists were coming out of the election and it was truly inspiring to see them rise to the occasion immediately after the election and make these protests happen on very short notice in order to safeguard the Mueller investigation and really to safeguard our democracy," said Izzy Bronstein, of Common Cause. "These protests were pulled together by sheer determination on the day after Election Day. People came about because no matter how tired we are, we will always put our country first. The efforts of these activists are amazing and inspiring. Tonight, they made it very clear that they do not intend to stop until our democracy is no longer under siege."

The protests were organized by NobodyIsAboveTheLaw.org, a collaborative effort of dozens of organizations from across the political and ideological spectrum, that came together to safeguard the investigation of Russia's attack on our democracy from political interference by the Trump Administration and many in congress. Participating organizations include the Truman National Security Project, MoveOn Civic Action, Public Citizen, Stand Up America, March for Truth, Common Cause, Indivisible, People for the American Way, Democracy 21, Democracy for America, Center for American Progress Action Fund, Protect the Investigation, The Arena, Together We Will, Common Defense, Free Speech for People, Demos, Town Hall Project, NextGen America, Women's March, March On, Friends of the Earth, Bend The Arc Jewish Action, Lawyers for Good Government, Americans for Democratic Action, American Family Voices, American Oversight, Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington, Protect Democracy, Defending Democracy, CREDO, American Federation of Teachers and The Center for Popular Democracy.

To view this release online, click here.

Common Cause is a nonpartisan, grassroots organization dedicated to upholding the core values of American democracy. We work to create open, honest, and accountable government that serves the public interest; promote equal rights, opportunity, and representation for all; and empower all people to make their voices heard in the political process.

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