July 28, 2020
Partisan violence erupted in Tyler, Texas on Sunday, as counterprotesters carrying guns, Confederate flags, and bullhorns flooded a rally organized by a Democratic candidate for Congress. Cattle rancher Hank Gilbert is making a long-shot bid in a deep-red district, a district that Republican Louie Gohmert has held for eight terms.
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| Left, a counterprotester with White tattooed on one arm and "Pride" on the other. Right, Gilbert's campaign manager, post-rally. |
Gilbert's rally was for supporters demon-strating against the Federal crackdown in Portland. The invaders, more numerous than the Gilbert supporters, arrived en-masse from a nearby "Blue Lives Matter" event that was scheduled in haste in response to Gilbert's rally. The counterprotesters wore MAGA hats and carried Trump-Pence signs. Many had White Pride tattoos. They used bullhorns to drown out Gilbert's speakers.
Video clips show Gohmert supporters shouting and pushing Gilbert's campaign manager into a wall that appears to be a marble monument. Another Gilbert supporter was punched in the
Video clips show Gohmert supporters shouting and pushing Gilbert's campaign manager into a wall that appears to be a marble monument. Another Gilbert supporter was punched in the
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| Hank Gilbert, Democratic candidate |
breast, and another was choked in a one-hand hold and also pushed against the monument. Other, less consequential skirmishes broke out elsewhere in the crowd as well.
"The Tyler police were idly driving around the square in their patrol cars and waving at the counterprotesters," Gilbert said. As of late afternoon Monday, no charges have been filed. Gilbert has asked the FBI to look into the incident.
Asked for a comment, Gohmert responded with Trump-style verve. “I have no firsthand knowledge of what went on,
Asked for a comment, Gohmert responded with Trump-style verve. “I have no firsthand knowledge of what went on,
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| Rep. Louie Gohmert. Trump calls him a "warrior." |
because I was not there, did not organize it, didn’t know about it until it was taking place, and I was going to catch a plane back to Washington," he said.
He continued, "But what came to my mind is the violence Democrat leaders paid to create at Trump campaign events in 2016, followed by Democrats then claiming Donald Trump incited violence...There are Democrats and Marxists doing the same thing this year as well.”
Were you expecting something like this to happen? Are you expecting more such incidents? Have you been involved in protests that led to violence among the attendees? What would you do if it happened to you?
He continued, "But what came to my mind is the violence Democrat leaders paid to create at Trump campaign events in 2016, followed by Democrats then claiming Donald Trump incited violence...There are Democrats and Marxists doing the same thing this year as well.”
Were you expecting something like this to happen? Are you expecting more such incidents? Have you been involved in protests that led to violence among the attendees? What would you do if it happened to you?
Photos from Hank Gilbert for Congress Facebook page and Gohmert for Congress website.
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