Jon Smith receives the Republican of the Year award during the Hillsdale County Republican Party’s monthly meeting. Jordan Scenna | Washtenaw Voice
by JORDAN SCENNA
Deputy Editor
As candlelight vigils were taking place across southeast Michigan in remembrance of the Jan. 6 Capitol riot, the members of the Hillsdale County Republican Party gathered at Sozo Church near downtown Hillsdale to discuss what they encountered firsthand that day in Washington. The group, incensed over what they believe to be an election that was riddled with fraud, sent 104 members to the Capitol to make their distrust in government, and the electoral process known. They weren’t going to cower in the face of corruption, and they wanted Washington to know it.
“I backed down from a fight once,” said Jon Smith, the secretary of the political group, recalling a time as a teenager when he was jumped by a gang of his peers. “It won’t happen again.”
Smith, while condemning any illegal acts that took place by individuals, is unapologetic about his role in the January 6 event, and a firm believer that the election was fraudulent.
“This has nothing to do with Trump,” said Smith. “When you have something unconstitutional you have to stand up against it.”
Jon Rutan receives a Certificate of Recognition next to the group’s motto “Hillsdale VS. Everybody.” Jordan Scenna | Washtenaw Voice
The Hillsdale county group gathers on the first Thursday of every month for a business dinner, with this month’s meeting falling on the anniversary of the January 6 protest. The event, attended by approximately 70 members, began with a prayer led by group parliamentarian Jon Rutan, followed by the Pledge of Allegiance. To mark the occasion, speakers were invited to give up-front accounts of their January 6 experiences on the Jesus Sex Politics Podcast, hosted by Micah Beckwith.
One of the guest speakers of the podcast was Hillsdale City Councilman, Robert Socha, who traveled to Washington with his fifteen-year-old daughter. He wanted to give her an introduction to the political process and the civil duty of protest.
“This was not an insurrection,” said Councilman Socha. “I would call this a peaceful assembly. They use the word insurrection to bludgeon us, to dehumanize us.”
Socha also claims during the podcast that he overheard Capitol police telling protesters to leave the area because Antifa agitators had arrived and planned to instigate violence.
According to the U.S Department of Justice, more than 225 defendants have been charged with assaulting, resisting, or impeding officers or employees, including over 75 individuals who have been charged with using a deadly or dangerous weapon or causing bodily injury to an officer. Approximately 140 police officers were assaulted. In total, more than 725 individuals have been arrested and face charges, according to the Justice Department.
Socha’s belief that the violence was the result of Antifa agitators is repeated by other members of the assembly. Some say they saw batons being handed to protestors, while others claim that there was no real violence, or that it was exaggerated by the media and law enforcement.
“There was no more violence than I’ve seen at a Rage Against the Machine concert,” said Smith.
On a poster, next to a list of the group’s party values (such as Bill of Rights, lower taxes, limited government) is the maxim “Hillsdale vs. Everybody.” This sentiment is echoed by the Hillsdale Republicans goals for the future.
“We want to grow our membership through action and integrity, increase our voter base, and support Republican candidates,” said Smith.
The foremost aim of the group is to get as many like-minded individuals elected to local and state government. Present at the meeting were two members declaring their intent to run for state representatives in their districts. Jon Rocha is running in Barry County, and Angela Rigas for Kent County.
Editor’s note:
On the anniversary of the Jan. 6 riot at the U.S. Capitol, we visited Hillsdale County, one of the most staunchly conservative places in Michigan and beyond. More than 70 percent of the county’s voters cast Republican ballots in recent presidential elections. Our goal was to better understand the viewpoint of citizens who see events quite differently than their counterparts here in heavily Democratic Washtenaw County.
