ASHEVILLE, N.C. (828newsNOW) — It was cold Monday, and a brutal wind was blowing. But that didn’t stop what was estimated to be almost 1,000 people from gathering at Pack Square Park in downtown Asheville to protest losing state Supreme Court candidate Jefferson Griffin’s bid to get the courts to throw out more than 60,000 votes and overturn the election.

After multiple recounts and audits, Democratic Associate Justice Allison Riggs maintains a 734-vote lead over Republican rival Griffin.

“It’s the people’s turn to say: reject Griffin’s challenges — and respect our votes!” Common Cause said in its announcement about the rally.

“You can do something about this,” Leslie Boyd, of the Poor People’s Campaign, told the crowd.

The Asheville rally was one of several planned across the state Monday.

About 1,000 people were estimated to have gathered in downtown Asheville to protest losing state Supreme Court candidate Jefferson Griffin’s bid to get the courts to throw out more than 60,000 votes and overturn the election.
About 1,000 people were estimated to have gathered in downtown Asheville to protest losing state Supreme Court candidate Jefferson Griffin’s bid to get the courts to throw out more than 60,000 votes and overturn the election.
About 1,000 people were estimated to have gathered in downtown Asheville to protest losing state Supreme Court candidate Jefferson Griffin’s bid to get the courts to throw out more than 60,000 votes and overturn the election.
About 1,000 people were estimated to have gathered in downtown Asheville to protest losing state Supreme Court candidate Jefferson Griffin’s bid to get the courts to throw out more than 60,000 votes and overturn the election.
About 1,000 people were estimated to have gathered in downtown Asheville to protest losing state Supreme Court candidate Jefferson Griffin’s bid to get the courts to throw out more than 60,000 votes and overturn the election.

Griffin’s efforts prompted numerous “Protect the Vote” and “Stop the Steal,” along with demands that the courts respect the votes of North Carolina residents.

“I’m here to protect my vote,” one woman said.

“We believe in democracy. We want to make sure all our votes count as we cast them,” another in the crowd said.

“We want to keep all our votes counted,” another woman said as the crowd was breaking up.

“We want to stop the steal,” another woman said.

Common Cause NC, Transylvania NAACP, NC Poor People’s Campaign, Carolina Federation, Good Trouble WNC, UU Asheville and Carolina Jews for Justice sponsored the rally, which started about noon.