CHARLOTTE, N.C. — A few people from North Carolina drove to Charlotte’s Federal Courthouse Saturday morning to protest for those who were arrested at January 6 protest in Washington, D.C. 

 

What You Need To Know

Around 15 people protested at Charlotte's Federal Courthouse Saturday

Dick Shaughnessy from Polk County made the drive to Charlotte to show his support for those who were arrested from the January 6 protest

Shaughnessy​ was in Washington, D.C. on January 6

 

Of the roughly 15 people that showed up Saturday morning for the "Justice for J6" protest, one of them was at the protest in Washington, D.C. on January 6. He drove a little over an hour to be at the courthouse to show his support for those who were arrested. 

“You know, for the grace of God, that could’ve been me I suppose had I been closer and caught up in the physical entanglement of what was happening there,” Dick Shaughnessy said. 

Shaughnessy, from Polk County, said he came to Charlotte in support of Charles Donohue from Kernersville.  

Donohue, a member of the Proud Boys according to the FBI, was arrested on March 17 in Kernersville for conspiracy charges, destruction of government property, entering and remaining in a restricted building or grounds, among other charges from the January 6 protest.   

“My heart goes out to Charles Donohue and all the other prisoners. Yeah he’s my brother. I feel that he was there on January 6th with me,”  Shaughnessy said.  

Shaughnessy said he did not go inside the Capitol.

“I heard someone come out and say someone's been shot. It was horrible. I left the city feeling really depressed,” he said.

He says the people that were there, were there for the right reasons. Which is why he was protesting Saturday for their rights. 

“Their constitutional rights are being mistreated, in some cases, not Charles (Donohue). Charles tells me everything is going well for him, except his right to a speedy trial,” Shaughnessy said.

The group of people Saturday morning sang "God Bless America" and other patriotic songs for an hour.

The protest was organized by Look Ahead America. 

The AP reported that Justice Department prosecutors said in a court filing that Donohue “played a direct role in unleashing violence on the Capitol” and that he celebrated online after the attack.