St. Louis Couple Who Waved Guns At Black Lives Matter Protesters To Speak At RNC

НОВОРОССИЯ.RU
18 Авг 2020, 19:45

Enlarge this image

Mark and Patricia McCloskey of St. Louis, who brandished firearms outside their home in June as protesters walked by, have been invited to speak at the Republican National Convention, their lawyers confirm.

Laurie Skrivan/St. Louis Post-Dispatch/TNS via Getty Images

hide caption

toggle caption

Laurie Skrivan/St. Louis Post-Dispatch/TNS via Getty Images

Live Updates: Protests For Racial Justice
St. Louis Prosecutor Charges White Couple With Threatening Protesters With Guns

The McCloskeys face felony charges for waving firearms «in a threatening manner» at demonstrators as they marched through the couple’s neighborhood en route to the home of St. Louis Mayor Lyda Krewson, who lives nearby.

The couple, both attorneys, said they armed themselves because they felt threatened by the protesters. Images of the incident went viral on social media.

President Trump also retweeted an ABC News video on June 29, without comment, showing Mark McCloskey holding a black semi-automatic rifle and his wife holding a silver pistol. The couple were shouting at protesters as they walked by their home.

In the clip, several protesters can be seen recording the couple with their cellphones as drumming and chants of «Let’s go» can be heard.

A couple pointed guns at protesters in St. Louis as a group marched toward the mayor's home to demand her resignation. https://t.co/5EqDd43QCd pic.twitter.com/KWNaif77ch

— ABC News (@ABC) June 29, 2020

A circuit attorney for the city of St. Louis, Kimberly Gardner, announced last month that both of the McCloskeys face one charge of unlawful use of a weapon, which is a class E felony.

«It is illegal to wave weapons in a threatening manner at those participating in nonviolent protest, and while we are fortunate this situation did not escalate into deadly force, this type of conduct is unacceptable in St. Louis,» Gardner said in a statement.

The incident has drawn both ire from Black Lives Matter supporters and praise from Second Amendment activists.

It has also attracted the attention of several Republicans who railed against charges brought by the city of St. Louis. U.S. Sen. Josh Hawley, R-Mo., tweeted after the charges were announced, «This is an outrageous abuse of power.»

This is an outrageous abuse of power https://t.co/WWftfcqXdZ

— Josh Hawley (@HawleyMO) July 20, 2020

Hawley also said the case should be dismissed, while also calling for an investigation into the office that brought charges.

«Dozens of violent criminals go free but homeowners facing trespassers on their own property are prosecuted. All the more reason for a SEARCHING Justice Dept investigation of the Circuit Attorney’s Office,» Hawley tweeted.

Missouri Gov. Mike Parson, a Republican, has floated the idea of pardoning the McCloskeys should they be convicted, according to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.