Jan. 6 Prisoner’s Campaign for Florida State Representative ‘Absolutely Gaining Traction’

'We have to stand behind him 100 percent'

Volunteers for Jeremy Brown's Florida House campaign will receive special orange jailhouse scrubs to wear in support of Brown, a candidate for Florida House District 62 and a Jan. 6 prisoner. (Patricia Tolson/The Epoch Times)

As Florida’s Aug. 23 primary draws near, the historic campaign for a Jan. 6 prisoner—who is running for a seat in the state House of Representatives—is rapidly gaining support.

As reported May 24 by The Epoch Times, Jeremy Brown is running to represent District 62 in the Florida House. It’s the first time someone has sought the position of state representative in the Sunshine State while incarcerated. Due to the unique nature of Brown’s candidacy, the Florida Department of State’s Division of Elections was unable to confirm whether there was anything in Florida’s Constitution or any law or statute that would disqualify Brown from serving as a state representative while in jail, or if he would be able to continue serving in that position were he to eventually be convicted of any crime.

Even the woman heading up his campaign, Cathi Chamberlain, bears the unique title of “Campaign Commander.”

Sirena Pellarolo sells orange T-shirts in the campaign tent at a rally held outside of the Pinellas County Jail in Clearwater, Fla., in support of Jeremy Brown, a Jan. 6 prisoner and candidate for Florida State Representative, on May 22, 2022. (Patricia Tolson/The Epoch Times)

“Jeremy’s campaign is absolutely gaining traction,” Chamberlain told The Epoch Times at a rally and prayer vigil held just outside of the Pinellas County Jail in Clearwater, Florida, on May 22.

Brown is currently in jail awaiting trial for two misdemeanor charges related to the Jan. 6, 2021, Stop the Steal protest in Washington: entering and remaining in a restricted building or grounds and disorderly and disruptive conduct in a restricted building or grounds. There is no evidence that Brown ever entered the Capitol Building. He has been in jail, under maximum security with no outdoor privileges, for over 230 days.

Brown is the only Republican running for the District 62 seat in the Florida House. On the Democratic side, three challengers—Wengay M. Newton Sr., Trevor Mallory, and Jesse Philippe—are hoping to oust incumbent Michele Rayner.

Chamberlain said she started the monthly rallies at Pinellas County Jail in December 2021. However, with her new position as Brown’s campaign manager, she has “stepped away” from that role in order to focus on getting him elected. The May 22 rally was the first event organized by his campaign volunteers.

“I was thrilled that they are carrying on with that ceremony because it’s so important to keep his name alive, as well as those of the other ‘January Sixers,’” Chamberlain said, adding that managing Brown’s campaign “has been quite a process.”

“It took a lot to get his campaign up and running because it’s not your usual campaign,” she explained. “You have to send all of the paperwork to Jeremy in jail. Then he has to find a notary and have them sign it and get it back to us, all under the scrutiny of the guards who check the mail and read it. It’s a real time-consuming process.”

According to Chamberlain, the campaign “really kind of kicked off” on March 8, 2022, after all of the paperwork was completed and filed. Her focus for the following two months was on gaining the required number of petitions to get Brown’s name on the ballot.

Cathi Chamberlain takes a break at a local restaurant to strategize about Jeremy Brown's campaign with her companion cardboard cutout of Brown, a Jan. 6 prisoner and candidate for Florida State House. (Courtesy of Cathi Chamberlain)

Chamberlain explained that candidates have two options to get their names on a ballot. One is to gain the required number of petitions. In Brown’s case, as a candidate for the Florida House, the required number is 599. The other option is to pay a fee.

“In our case, it was $1,800, which is a lot for a new campaign that is just starting to fundraise and get the word out,” she said. “It took us two months to get those petitions and that’s a real achievement. Most candidates don’t even bother with the petitions because it’s extremely hard to get that number of petitions signed and verified by the due date, which was May 16. We made it on May 12 and actually ended up with way more than we needed and they came in from over 20 different counties in Florida, which says a lot.”

Now that Brown is officially on the ballot, Chamberlain’s focus has shifted to planning events and fundraisers in order to raise money for the “necessary things” for his campaign, like yard signs and shirts, “to help expose his situation and get his name out there.” They also have an official campaign website where people can donate to his effort.

“We just recently collected enough money to purchase the first batch of orange jailhouse scrubs, which is what all of our volunteers will be wearing, which is kind of a quandary because people want to buy those,” Chamberlain said, explaining that those are “reserved just for the volunteers so they can be distinguished and honored for being volunteers and to give them an incentive for volunteering.”

Instead of scrubs, supporters can purchase orange campaign T-shirts.

So far, Chamberlain said she has accrued about 350 volunteers but is seeking more in many categories from door knockers to social media posters.

“We’re on a good roll for getting the word out,” Chamberlain said. “Once we get our volunteers out there spreading the word, things are really going to explode.”

An attendee holds an American flag in the upside down position, signaling distress and extreme danger, at a prayer vigil and rally in support of Jeremy Brown, a Jan. 6 prisoner and candidate for Florida House District 62, outside of Pinellas County Jail on May 22, 2022. (Patricia Tolson/The Epoch Times)

Sirena Pellarolo of Largo in Pinellas County thinks Brown’s candidacy is “fantastic.”

“Not only is he the best candidate ever, he’s an incredible patriot. He has dedicated all of his life for this country and he would be a fantastic representative for the state of Florida. He’s also giving visibility to the plight of all of the J-6 prisoners who are languishing is so many prisons across the country, mostly in Washington. It’s a great idea and I totally support him.”

An aerial photo of rally outside of the Pinellas County Jail in Clearwater, Fla., on the one-year anniversary of the Stop the Steal protest in Washington on Jan. 6, 2021, in support of all of the Jan. 6 prisoners incarcerated across the United States. (Courtesy of Cathi Chamberlain)

Barbara Day, also from Pinellas County, was at the rally and sang the national anthem in support of Brown.

“It’s so bold and so brave that he is taking his circumstance and using it as a means to show us conservatives what it really means to be the what I call the anti-politician, the one who is brave to continue his work and what his mission is despite his circumstances,” Day said.

A sign bearing the "Jan-Six" logo, designed to represent the prisoners being held for their participation or simple presence at the Stop the Steal rally in Washington on Jan. 6, 2021, is spotted at a rally in Pinellas County, Fla., on May 22, 2022. (Patricia Tolson/The Epoch Times)

Stephen Meckler drove an hour from Citrus County to attend the rally in support of Brown and other Jan. 6 prisoners.

“I’m basically here to help Jeremy out,” Meckler told The Epoch Times. “I’m a veteran also. I hate seeing what’s going on. That’s the bottom line. I came down to stand up for him.”

Jack Martin of Spring Hill, Florida, said he believes what is happening to Brown is “shameful to our nation.”

People gather at a rally and prayer vigil outside of the Pinellas County Jail is support of Jeremy Brown, a Jan. 6 prisoner and candidate for Florida House District 62. (Patricia Tolson/The Epoch Times)

“I think there’s ample proof that he hasn’t done anything that’s criminal for him to be where he is,” Martin said. “I think the punishment for him and the other J-6ers are suffering right now is unconstitutional and I think our government needs to be held responsible for what they’ve done.”

Gaye Collins of Belleair, Florida, said that Jan. 6 was a shame.

“There’s more and more coming out to show, it was like we knew it was,” Collins said. “It was run by the feds to trap people and the videos show.”

Tawnya Martin of St. Petersburg, Florida, is convinced that Jan. 6 was a setup to entrap Americans.

“I’m concerned that Floridians are being locked up for an indefinite period of time and I don’t find that constitutional so I’m not really sure who I need to talk to about that. I’m a little concerned about it,” Martin said. “It’s been over a year now. I’m going to start asking questions. That’s all I know to do. I’ve read the state constitution and the U.S. Constitution and I don’t see how it’s constitutional to lock someone up indefinitely.”

George Colella, the national president of Born to Ride for 45, said he also believes what is happening to Brown is unconstitutional.

“One of the reasons why I’m supporting Jeremy Brown is because [his incarceration] is unconstitutional,” Colella told The Epoch Times. “It’s important to me and to this country. We have to stand behind him 100 percent.”

Lisa Repetto of Palm Harbor, Florida, also attended the rally to show her support for Brown.

“I am here to support Jeremy,” Repetto, a self-described patriot, told The Epoch Times. “I don’t like what’s going on in our country. I’m especially concerned about the Jan. 6 folks that are behind bars right now. It’s unjustified. We all need to get together and fight for our country and our freedom and it’s really important for me to fight for our civil liberties and our rights because they are in jeopardy. I’ve been praying a lot for Jeremy and for our country and our lovely patriots.”

James Lampe of Pinellas County thinks Brown has “about a 50–50 chance” of winning.

“I think it’s unique. I think it’s great. I think it’s going to bust things wide open. There are a lot of people running from the other side and I don’t know how much press or publicity we will get, but he’s getting a lot of support here,” Lampe said. “We’re doing a lot for him and we intend on making him win.”