Lincoln Project admits to dressing up fake Youngkin backers in racist Unite the Right garb

The anti-Donald Trump group The Lincoln Project admitted to planting five people carrying tiki torches at a Charlottesville campaign stop by Virginia ‘s Republicans candidate for governor on Friday- a political stunt that tried to smear the surging GOP candidate with white supremacists who descended on that city amid violence in 2017. 

Charlottesville TV station WVIR covered the campaign stop and reported candidate Glenn Youngkin was inside a restaurant when the group dressed in matching hats, khakis and white button-down shirts appeared beside his campaign bus. 

The former private equity executive and political newcomer is in a close race against former Democratic Governor Terry McAuliffe as Tuesday’s Election Day nears.

Photos showed the group holding large tiki torches. 

Five people holding tiki torches stand in the rain by the campaign bus for GOP gubernatorial candidate Glenn Youngkin in Charlottesville on Friday. The Lincoln Project has admitted to being behind the stunt, to discredit Youngkin

Glenn Youngkin, the Republican candidate to be elected governor of Virginia on Tuesday, is seen on Friday campaigning in Charlottesville

Youngkin is taking on Terry McAuliffe, the Democrat contender, who was governor of Virginia from 2014-18 and is hoping to be re-elected

Their appearance recalled two days of chaos in August 2017, when white supremacists gathered in the college town for a ‘Unite the Right’ rally – ostensibly to protest the planned removal of a Confederate monument.

The night before the planned rally, a group carrying tiki torches marched across the University of Virginia campus, clashing with a small group of anti-racist protesters. 

The next day a car driven by a self-avowed white supremacist plowed into a crowd of peaceful counter-protesters, killing one protester, Heather Heyer, and injuring dozens.

McAuliffe staffers promoted a reporter’s tweet about the group’s appearance, using it to attack Youngkin and suggesting that those holding the torches were his supporters.

Youngkin staffers accused the McAuliffe campaign or Virginia Democrats of being involved, drawing disavowals.

‘What happened today is disgusting and distasteful and we condemn it in the strongest terms. Those involved should immediately apologize,’ McAuliffe campaign manager Chris Bolling said in a statement.

White supremacists and neo-Nazis carrying tiki torches marched through Charlottesville on August 11, 2017 in a ‘Unite The Right’ rally to protest against the removal of Confederate statues

The group, chanting ‘Jews will not replace us’, formed a procession through the Virginia college town on August 11, 2017

The neo-Nazi group are seen circling a statue of Thomas Jefferson on August 11, 2017

The torch-lit procession and the racist chants outraged many Charlottesville residents

The Democratic Party of Virginia issued a statement saying neither the party nor its ‘coordinated partners and affiliates’ had anything to do with ‘the events’ at the campaign bus stop.

The Lincoln Project then weighed in, saying it was behind what it called a ‘demonstration.’

The group is known for its provocative use of memes and stunts. 

The Lincoln Project, a group of ‘Never Trump’ Republicans, is known for its outlandish use of memes and stunts

‘The Youngkin campaign is enraged by our reminder of Charlottesville for one simple reason: Glenn Youngkin wants Virginians to forget that he is Donald Trump’s candidate,’ the group said.

The incident comes at a sensitive time in the city. 

A civil trial opened on Monday that will determine whether the neo-Nazis and white supremacists who organized the 2017 demonstrations should be held accountable for the violence.

Democratic Del. Sally Hudson, who represents Charlottesville in the General Assembly, condemned the torch-bearing incident as a ‘stunt.’

‘Charlottesville is not a prop. Our community is still reeling from years of trauma – especially this week. Don’t come back, @ProjectLincoln. Your stunts aren’t welcome here,’ she tweeted.

The Youngkin campaign did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Trump supporters reacted with anger to the stunt, and several people – including the former president’s son – speculated that McAuliffe’s team was in fact behind it, but then used the Lincoln Project to take the fall when criticism mounted.

‘No chance Lincoln Project staged this, even though a “white supremacist” rally is right up Confederate Rick Wilson’s alley,’ said Donald Trump Jr. 

‘The VA dem operatives involved have already been identified & locked down their social media. Busted. 

‘Don’t let Pedo Project take the hit for McAuliffe.’

Jack Posobiec, the alt-Right commentator, said: ‘Virginia Democrat operatives dressed up as Neo-Nazis holding tiki-torches today to smear their opponent and attempted to pass it off as actually happening.’ 

Other critics from the opposite side of the political spectrum took issue with Lincoln Project bringing back painful memories. 

‘My heart aches for Heather Heyer and for all her loved ones,’ said Christine Pelosi, daughter of the Speaker of the House, Nancy Pelosi. 

‘Her death shook me to the core as an activist and mom. 

‘The 2017 deadly Nazi rally was bad enough; today’s Lincoln Project tiki stunt was cruel. 

‘Some things are – or should be – beyond politics. This is one of them.’

CJ Paschall, an anchor with the local NBC affiliate in Charlottesville, tweeted: ‘Tone deaf is putting it mildly. 

‘Charlottesville is already reliving some of the darkest days of the city’s history with the trial underway. 

‘The trauma people continue to suffer is not your soap box.’

And Lizzie Hylton, political and legislative director of the clean energy group Clean Virginia, echoed Paschall’s view.

‘Charlottesville is a real city with real people – far too many of whom are still trying to heal from the massive trauma experienced on August 11th and 12th 2017,’ she said. 

‘Bringing fake Nazis with tiki torches here for a political stunt is beyond f***** up. Shame on @ProjectLincoln.’