A conservative women’s group with a chapter at the University of Georgia says local Democratic organizations bullied them and prevented them from meeting.
The UGA chapter of Women Lead Right stated last Thursday that the Athens-Clarke County Democrats had intimidated them. The group had invited the family of murdered college student Laken Riley to attend their kickoff meeting on Wednesday, along with U.S. Representative Mike Collins.
Leah Aldridge, founder and president of the Georgia chapter of Women Lead Right, said the group ultimately canceled the meeting after concerns that protesters would attend and intimidate student participants.
“I think the senior leader of the organization didn’t feel comfortable asking some of the young women that she had invited to attend to do that, and she was most concerned about Laken Riley’s family,” Aldridge said.The Athens-Clarke County Democrats had informed residents of Representative Collins’ visit to Athens via social media and at a town hall meeting held the day before the canceled event. Collins was invited to the town hall by Democratic organizers, but he declined to attend.
Shellby Branch, chair of the Athens-Clarke County Democratic Committee, denied the accusations of bullying.
“I don’t think it’s bullying or intimidation to do what this committee did, which was really just say, ‘We know that you guys—the community, his constituents—have been unable to reach your representative,’” Branch said.She added that while the committee informed residents of Women Lead Right’s event, it did not officially organize any protest.
