Why hold a vigil?

When we thought about how to respond to LIV Golf coming to Virginia, we realized the Saudi government’s horrific human rights record was a big part of what was most galling. We decided to highlight that, and Jamal Khashoggi was the obvious choice to anchor our protest. After fleeing Saudi Arabia, he moved to Maclean here in Northern Virginia. He was our neighbor. The Saudis killed him, and Trump did nothing.

Does that mean we can’t protest Trump?

Of course not! We will welcome any protest against tyranny, including the President. As long as your message is nonviolent, you are on our team. If you are making a new poster or banner, it would be great to use the word ‘tyranny’.

Why not protest Trump specifically?

We want to create a problem he cannot solve. If we protest the President, he can ignore us. But if we plan to ruin the LIV Golf tournament, the Saudis will demand he do something. He is powerless to stop us. We can do things in Virginia that would be illegal in D.C. – in fact, we do not even need a permit! We want to show the world that Trump cannot protect even his friends. We want to embarrass him on a global stage. Going after the Saudis does that.

What is the goal of the vigil?

First, we want to show the world that Virginians and our neighbors will stand up to tyranny. Our flag is not just mildly erotic decoration. It is an instruction manual.

Second, we want to disrupt coverage of the tournament with reminders of Jamal Khashoggi. The LIV Golf tournaments are ‘sportswashing’ – the Saudis’ attempt to distract from their human rights abuses. We are going to use the tournament to remind the world of their crimes. There will be media from many of the golf-playing countries of the world, so we should have an easy time getting Jamal’s face on camera.

Third, we want to cost the Saudi government and the Trump Organization money. If golf fans realize they are supporting a vicious and sadistic regime, they might stop paying to attend LIV Golf tournaments. And if this vigil is successful, the Saudis will never come back to the Trump National Washington D.C.