Protesters gather outside Crowne Plaza in Warwick to protest candidate Vic Mellor and his right-wing 'Rhode Island First Rally'
"No one who attacked the Capitol on January 6th should represent Rhode Island in Congress, and especially not someone who has lived outside our state for 30 years.”
All photos on this page ©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.
Here’s the video:
Speakers at the event included:
Victor Mellor
Joseph Flynn, the “steadfast younger brother of retired Lieutenant General Michael Flynn.”
Caitlynne Curtis, a Nashville-based country-rock singer-songwriter
Alexa Picillo is an 18-year-old pop-country singer-songwriter from North Smithfield, Rhode Island.
Pastor John Cerce of The Way Ministries in North Providence.
Normand Champigny is a Rhode Island native from Woonsocket and a long-time New England small-business and community advocate.
Robert Chiaradio Jr., a Rhode Island-based anti-trans activist
Ramona Bessinger is a former teacher, conservative advocate, and community organizer in Rhode Island.
Dillin Degnan, founder and lead volunteer for Make the Ocean State Healthy Again (MOSHA), a local chapter of the national Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) movement, inspired by Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
Holly Sullivan, Second Amendment rights activist.
The Vic Mellor campaign released the following about Saturday’s event:
"On Saturday, March 7th, Vic Mellor held the first rally for his campaign for Congressman from Rhode Island’s 2nd Congressional District at the Crowne Plaza ballroom in Warwick. Vic Mellor, a Republican, is running on a platform to maintain a secure border and deport criminal illegal aliens, lower the costs of housing, energy, and healthcare, and refocus our schools on rigorous academic achievement.
"Despite Democrat threats to both the hotel and the campaign to block the rally, the show went on as planned. At the entrance to the Crowne Plaza, a small group of open-borders protesters was outnumbered by spirited, flag-waving pro-American activists. No incidents were reported."
[Editor: This is clearly inaccurate. Protesters outnumbered counter-protesters at least 8-1]
"An overflow crowd of more than 600 attendees packed the house and were treated to dynamic performances by Nashville music stars Struggles Jennings and Caitlynne Curtis, and the punchy comedy of Dillin Degnan. The live entertainment was interspersed with appearances from local activists Bob Chiaradio and Ramona Bessinger, who discussed their fight against transgender and DEI policies that are harming children in our schools. They brought the crowd to their feet in applause.
"Matt Light, a longtime friend of Vic Mellor’s, a former Patriot offensive lineman and player in 3 Super Bowl championship victories, talked about everyday people finding a way, big or small, to make their communities, our state, and our country better and stronger. He suggested that volunteering for Vic Mellor’s campaign was a great option.
"Rhode Island native Lt. General Michael Flynn, who served our country for 33 years in the U.S. Army, gave an inspirational speech calling on each of us to find our own way to serve our country. As America celebrates its 250th birthday this year, it has enemies who hope for its destruction. He called on the attendees to engage in good and faithful work to ensure that it will thrive for another 250 years and beyond as the home of freedom and prosperity.
"The crowd erupted into long, sustained applause, thanking him for his wisdom and his long and distinguished career of serving and protecting our country.
"The enthusiasm in the room was unmistakable when candidate Vic Mellor promised more rallies to come."