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| ©2026 Anthony Ricci |
Florida businessman Vic Mellor has announced his intention to challenge Seth Magaziner for the 2nd Congressional District seat in Rhode Island.
Mellor participated in the January 6, 2021, United States Capitol attack, which he described to Kathy Gregg at the Providence Journal: “January 6 was [in the] top five of the emotional feelings you have for being part of something."
He and his son, said Mellor, made it inside the Capitol building that day. Mellor is a friend of retired Army General Michael Flynn and has been involved in Flynn’s Reawaken America tour. [See: Michael Flynn and the ‘Destiny of America’]
“I look forward to campaigning for another term next
year,” said Representative Magaziner in a statement. “The stakes are high. No
one who attacked the Capitol on January 6 should represent Rhode Island in
Congress, and especially not someone who has lived outside our state for 30
years.”
As part of his campaign, Mellor held a Rhode Island
First Rally1 on Saturday, March 7, at the Crowne
Plaza Providence-Warwick Airport, which drew protesters and
counter-protesters to the hotel entrance. Under the watchful eye of Warwick
Police Officers, around 75 people gathered across the street from the hotel
entrance, holding signs and chanting. Around a dozen counter-protesters stood
at the entrance of the hotel, holding signs in support of President Trump and
ICE.
Among the protesters were members of organizations opposed
to extreme right-wing politics, including Li’l Rhode Visibility Brigade, The
West Bay Blue Wave, South County Resistance, South
County Rising, Stand Up Rhode Island, Indivisible East
Bay RI, Cranston Forward, RI-WTF Resistance Coalition, Indivisible
Metro RI, Jewish Voice for Peace - RI, and Indivisible
South Coast New England.
Reporter Pat Ford has pictures on Facebook from inside Mellor’s Rhode Island First Rally.
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| ©2026 Anthony Ricci |
