Protesters outside of Virginia Attorney General debate want Miyares to ‘stand up to Trump’

RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) -- Peaceful protesters gathered outside of Thursday night's Virginia Attorney General debate to condemn current Attorney General Jason Miyares' stance on abortion and his affiliation with President Donald Trump.

On Thursday, Oct. 16, Miyares and his opponent, Democratic former senator Jay Jones, took to the debate stage at the University of Richmond to make their case as to why they should be Virginians' next pick for attorney general.

While many topics were discussed during the debate itself -- including Jones' highly controversial text messages, which have been a hot topic since they were released in early October -- the subjects that mattered most to the protesters posted outside were healthcare and abortion access.

Service Employees International Union (SEIU) Virginia and Planned Parenthood Advocates of Virginia organized the demonstration. In a press release issued ahead of the protest, the groups called out Miyares for "his record of cozying up to extreme anti-choice groups, attacking reproductive freedom and voting against Medicaid expansion for Virginians."

Protest against Attorney General Jason Miyares, held outside of the Virginia Attorney General Debate on Oct. 16. (Photo: Paul Nevadomski/8News)

Protest against Attorney General Jason Miyares, held outside of the Virginia Attorney General Debate on Oct. 16. (Photo: Paul Nevadomski/8News)

Protest against Attorney General Jason Miyares, held outside of the Virginia Attorney General Debate on Oct. 16. (Photo: Paul Nevadomski/8News)

Protest against Attorney General Jason Miyares, held outside of the Virginia Attorney General Debate on Oct. 16. (Photo: Paul Nevadomski/8News)

"Miyares’ record opposing reproductive freedom and voting against medicaid expansion prove he’s not willing to stand up for Virginians in the face of these attacks," the release reads.

Signs held by protesters read things like "MAGA Healthcare Cuts = 350,000 Virginians Lose Care" and "We Won't Go Back."

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Laura Packard, a small business owner with SEIU, told 8News at the protest that she wants Miyares to "stand up to Trump."

"He [Miyares] has just been letting Trump walk all over Virginians -- threatening our healthcare, threatening our research dollars ... he's not standing up for Virginians, and Virginians are suffering because of it," she said.

You can watch the full Virginia Attorney General Debate here. For more of 8News' coverage of Virginia's elections, click here.