Over the weekend, thousands of Nevadans gathered in Las Vegas and Carson City to protest Joe Lombardo after he was caught on tape mocking and belittling working-class Nevadans. Earlier this month, Lombardo was caught floating conspiracy theories when he told a crowd of supporters behind closed doors that the “stupid [Hands Off!] protests” attended by thousands of Nevadans throughout the state to fight against Donald Trump’s price-raising agenda that will cut Medicaid and education funding, were “paid by the Democratic Party.”
Lombardo said that “the central message” of the protests, “was, ‘What do you mean? You want me to go back to work? […] What can the government do to give handouts to us?’” To conclude his right-wing rant, Lombardo told supporters that the reason Nevada suffers from the highest unemployment rate in the nation is because, “people would rather manipulate the government process and receive unemployment or to sit at home versus occupying a job that’s available.’” He also told critics, “f–k you”.
Reno Gazette-Journal: Protesters turn anger toward Nevada governor during anti-Trump rally
Key points:
- Nevada’s Republican governor inspired many of the messages on signs at Saturday’s rally against Trump administration policies in Carson City.
- Gov. Joe Lombardo called the recent protests stupid and claimed attendees gathered outside the Nevada Capitol because they were paid.
- “Not paid, just pissed” was the theme on many signs. Some referred to the governor as “Lame-bardo” and one read, “Hey, Gov, where’s my check?”
- Ray Bolson of Reno printed up 500 stickers saying, “NOT A PAID PROTESTER,” and was handing them out to anybody who wanted one.
- Asked if he was being paid to hand out the stickers, he laughed at the absurdity.
- “We’re clearly not paid,” Bolson said. “Lombardo was idiotic for saying that.”
- He said the governor should come out and see why people are really taking to the streets.
- Carrying a sign saying “Now you’ve pissed off Granny,” Margaret Moore-Nadler said she’d never been to a protest before — and she wasn’t being paid.
- But Gov. Lombardo’s comments were something she felt needed pushback.
- At the same private Republican fundraiser where he called the protests stupid, Lombardo said his message for critics was “F— you” and that the protesters didn’t want to work and prefer handouts instead.
- “Saying that the people who came out here are freeloaders or are getting paid,” Moore-Nadler said, “I don’t think that was respectful, and I think all people need to be treated with respect.”
- She said her family is filled with military veterans going back to World War I.
- “I’m worried about our legitimate rights, our liberty, our freedom of speech,” she said. “They didn’t go to war to have those taken away.”
- Josh and Brooke Russo brought their two small daughters, Ellie and Quinn, to the rally.
- “I want them to know that it’s OK to stand up for what they believe in,” she said. “I want them to feel empowered.
KTNV: ‘We are not paid, we are angry’: Protesters rally against Trump policies and Lombardo remarks
Key points:
- Protesters took to the streets across the country Saturday, including here in Las Vegas, to speak out against the Trump administration.
- Hundreds gathered near the federal courthouse, holding signs that read “Fire Musk, Save the U.S.” and “No Kings.”
- Many in the crowd were also chanting, “The people united will never be defeated.”
- “We are not happy with what is happening right now,” said Anna Romero, demonstrator.
- The rally also comes in response to comments Governor Joe Lombardo reportedly made earlier this month at a Republican fundraiser in Carson City.
- In a leaked audio, Lombardo is reportedly heard referring to demonstrators at the April 5 ‘Hands Off’ protest against Donald Trump and Elon Musk as “paid protesters.”
- “He essentially said we are being paid and we all we are looking for are handouts, which is not true. We are just concerned citizens fighting for our democracy,” said Romero.
- “No one is paid. Nobody gets a dime. Everyone is here because they are horrified, terrified, of what is going on in our country,” said Kathy Blair, Demonstrator.
- “We are just your neighbors, your teachers, the people that bring you your cocktails and we’re pissed,” said Kileen Kapri-Kohn, Demonstrator.
- Channel 13 reached out to the governor’s office on Saturday to ask about these protests, but we’re still waiting to hear back.
KRNV: Thousands to rally in Carson City against Trump and Lombardo’s remarks
Key points:
- Thousands of northern Nevadans gathered in Carson City Saturday to protest what they describe as Donald Trump’s authoritarian actions and Nevada Governor Joe Lombardo’s recent controversial remarks.
- The rally, organized by local activist groups Indivisible Northern Nevada and 50501 NNV, happened outside the Nevada Legislature for several hours on April 19 and included roughly 4,000 participants.
- Governor Lombardo recently drew attention after a secretly recorded speech at the Republican party’s Lincoln Day Dinner on April 5. In his remarks, Lombardo claimed that protest participants were paid and used profanity towards critics. He also criticized Democrats as the party of “handouts,” despite supporting significant tax incentives for corporations like Tesla.
- Nevada State Assembly members Erika Roth, Max Carter, and Natha Anderson attended the rally to discuss the impact of Trump and Musk’s policies on citizens’ lives.
- Activists argue that Trump’s tariffs and policies have harmed the middle class and vulnerable populations. They accuse Trump and Musk of undermining workers’ rights, healthcare, and social security, and infringing on personal freedoms.
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