Protesters at postmaster general’s NC home accuse him of trying to ‘sabotage’ election
Protesters accused the U.S. postmaster general of trying to “sabotage” the November election as they rallied outside his North Carolina home on Sunday.
Hundreds of people gathered to voice concerns about recent changes to the U.S. Postal Service under Louis DeJoy’s leadership, social media posts show.
DeJoy, a Greensboro businessman, became postmaster general in June. He has donated to President Donald Trump, a Republican running for re-election.
A USPS representative didn’t immediately respond to McClatchy News’ request for comment on Monday morning.
Trump has said widespread mail-in voting could make the 2020 general election fraudulent, without providing evidence to back up the claim. The president also has blocked emergency money USPS would need to handle an expected surge of absentee ballots during the coronavirus pandemic, McClatchy News reported.
“They don’t have the money to do the universal mail-in voting,” Trump said last week during a briefing. “So therefore, they can’t do it, I guess.”
Meanwhile, Democrats have supported additional funding for the postal service before people cast their votes in November.
As the election nears, DeJoy has implemented changes that have led to mail delays, McClatchy News reported.
“Despite any assertions to the contrary, we are not slowing down election mail or any other mail,” the postmaster general said last week, according to CNN.
Outside his Greensboro home on Sunday, demonstrators held signs that read: “Paid for 2 day delivery... arrived one month later” and “Fire DeJoy save our USPS,” according to the News & Record. He was accused of attempting to “sabotage” the postal service, the newspaper reported.
Some have criticized DeJoy’s ties to the White House and questioned whether mail-in ballots that could help decide the next president will arrive on time, The Charlotte Observer reported.
“I am worried that Trump is intentionally slowing down the mail, removing mailing sorters, reducing staff, taking blue boxes off the streets so that he can slow down the ballots that are mailed in for the election,” protester Alix Matos told WFMY.
Crowds this weekend also gathered to protest outside DeJoy’s house in Washington, D.C., multiple news outlets reported.
This story was originally published August 17, 2020 at 10:36 AM with the headline "Protesters at postmaster general’s NC home accuse him of trying to ‘sabotage’ election."
