Brooks Brothers riot

Brooks Brothers riot

The Brooks Brothers riot was a demonstration at a meeting of election canvassers in Miami-Dade County, Florida, on November 22, 2000. The demonstration turned violent and several people were trampled, punched or kicked when protesters tried to rush the doors. Within two hours after the event, the canvassing board unanimously voted to shut down the count.

About Brooks Brothers riot in brief

Summary Brooks Brothers riotThe Brooks Brothers riot was a demonstration at a meeting of election canvassers in Miami-Dade County, Florida, on November 22, 2000. Many of the demonstrators were paid Republican operatives. Republican New York Representative John E. Sweeney gave the signal that started the riot, telling an aide to ‘Shut it down’ The demonstration turned violent and several people were trampled, punched or kicked when protesters tried to rush the doors. Within two hours after the event, the canvassing board unanimously voted to shut down the count, in part due to perceptions that the process was not open or fair, and in part because the court-mandated deadline had become impossible to meet, due to the interference.

At least a half dozen of the protestors were paid by George W. Bush’s recount committee, and a number of them went on to take jobs in the incoming Bush administration. Some Bush supporters did acknowledge they hoped the recount would end.