What is Gary Johnson doing during the debate? (Getty)
Gary Johnson, Libertarian presidential candidate, didn’t make the cut for the first presidential debate. But he and his supporters aren’t taking the exclusion lying down. Although Johnson hasn’t announced yet what he’s doing during the debate, as of the time of publication, his supporters are planning a lot of ways to let their voice be heard on Monday night for their favored candidate.
Here’s what you need to know.
Gary Johnson and Bill Weld Will Live Tweet the Debate from Twitter’s New York Office
Gary Johnson and Bill Weld won’t be silent during the debate. While Clinton and Trump are debating, they’ll be at Twitter’s Chelsea, New York office, watching and live tweeting the debate. You can follow them on their official Twitter accounts: Gary’s is here and Bill’s is here. Some supporters were hoping that Johnson would host a livestream of his own, answering debate questions. But the Twitter feed news was a welcome announcement for many others, who are glad to hear that they will be at Twitter’s New York office.
Gary’s Supporters Are Hosting a Free Speech Assembly at Hofstra University
Gary Johnson will not be in the presidential debate, but his supporters are hosting a big Free Speech Assembly on Monday afternoon just before the debate, on the same university campus where the debates will take place. The debate is scheduled to begin at 9 p.m. Eastern, and Johnson’s Free Speech Assembly event is lasting from 2:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. Eastern.
According to the event page on Facebook, the assembly will be for supporters to exercise their First Amendment rights of speech and assembly, so they can voice their displeasure that the Commission on Presidential Debates is only allowing two candidates to be in the first debate. Speakers at the event will include Daniel Fishman, Candidate State House Massachusetts; Nicholas Sawark, Libertarian Party National Chair; Ken Mulvena, Hofstra Director of Student Outreach for Johnson Weld; and Jeremy Karaken, North East Regional Coordinator.
Supporters will meet at the Hofstra University Free Speech Zone, 86 Uniondale Avenue.