'Free our Marine': State assemblyman joins Tahmooressi protest outside governor's mansion

As promised, California state assemblyman Tim Donnelly joined protesters outside of the California governor’s mansion Tuesday afternoon, where Mexican President Enrique Peña Nieto was being honored at a luncheon hosted by Gov. Jerry Brown.

Donnelly was invited to attend the luncheon but chose instead to protest the ongoing captivity of U.S. Marine Sgt. Andrew Tahmooressi. In a letter to the governor declining the invitation, Donnelly wrote:

I know that my absence may distress you, but it may comfort you to know that I’ll be standing outside leading a protest, doing the job you should have done as the highest elected official in California; demanding the release of one of our own, our Marine, Sgt. Andrew Tahmooressi.

You are welcome to join us if your conscience bothers you.

Protestors in Sacramento calling for release of #SgtTahmooressi, who is in a Mexican jail pic.twitter.com/unzkncxFag

— Chris Megerian (@ChrisMegerian) August 26, 2014

Protestors gathering for the arrival of pres. Nieto, demanding the release of sgt. Tahmooressi @FOX40 pic.twitter.com/gl3ALoMIdb

— Alex Cristescu (@Alex_Cristescu) August 26, 2014

It's not too late to join in the rally to free Marine Sgt. Tahmooressi. Happening NOW http://t.co/zoT0Ltogla … #SOT pic.twitter.com/2T6Zzlat7e

— Troopathon (@troopathon) August 26, 2014

https://twitter.com/akawhit1/status/504346513888522240

"Free our Marine!" chant at protest outside Stanford Mansion pic.twitter.com/FXj7kfh0EG

— Chris Megerian (@ChrisMegerian) August 26, 2014

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Asm. Donnelly is lining up live interviews from the sidewalk. "This is getting the point across," he says. pic.twitter.com/wesQJ0moyL

— Chris Megerian (@ChrisMegerian) August 26, 2014

Asm. Donnelly on #SgtTahmooressi — "He's not a criminal. He's an American hero." pic.twitter.com/wudOREc8ot

— Chris Megerian (@ChrisMegerian) August 26, 2014

The Mexican president had human rights on his mind, but not those of Sgt. Andrew Tahmooressi.

Pena thanks Brown for recognizing human rights of people "whether they have citizenship or not, whether they have legal status or not."

— Chris Megerian (@ChrisMegerian) August 26, 2014

As champagne glasses clink, shouts of "Viva Mexico!"

— Chris Megerian (@ChrisMegerian) August 26, 2014