A small crowd that gathered Thursday outside the Los Angeles office of U.S. Rep. Maxine Waters to counter an expected protest by a self-styled militia group burned an American flag taken from the back of a pickup truck.
The incident happened after the far-right Oath Keepers group didn’t appear at the office after saying it would rally against the congresswoman.
A group of counter-protesters there to support Waters were chanting “black power” and other slogans when the pickup approached.
The vehicle, occupied by two men who appeared to be white, was stopped by the crowd. Some marchers opened the doors and one grabbed the flag flying on a pole in the bed of the truck, which sped off.
The flag was stepped on and lit on fire as someone stoked the flames. A few people cheered and someone yelled, “This is not the American flag, this is their flag.”
No one was injured or arrested. Police wouldn’t immediately say whether they were investigating.
Attempts to reach a representative for Waters were unsuccessful.
The congresswoman, an outspoken critic of President Donald Trump , sparked anger among conservatives after she called on the public to “push back” on administration officials spotted in public.
The Oath Keepers called Waters a “protest terrorist inciter” and said members intended to “stand against terrorism, stand for freedom of speech and association, in support of ICE/Border Patrol as they enforce constitutional immigration laws.”
The gathering was planned for the early afternoon but police said then that authorities had been informed by Oath Keepers that the demonstration was called off.
“The Oath Keepers would like nothing more than to inflame racial tensions and create an explosive conflict in our community,” Waters said in a statement a day earlier urging counter-protesters to stay away.
A few dozen counter-protesters including union workers, church leaders, South Los Angeles residents and members of activist groups gathered peacefully outside the office at midday. Some held signs proclaiming “Black, brown and labor unity!” and “Resist!”
“These people are coming here to cause problems,” said Cliff Smith, an organizer with United Union of Roofers Waterproofers and Allied Workers Local No. 36. “Violent right wing groups have no business here.”
(AP)
Join the official YWN WhatsApp status
5 Responses
Such stunts by the left 50 years ago resulted in Nixon winning twice, Carter being able to barely squeak in, and the Reagan “revolution” in 1980 which reversed the course of Federal policy in a way that has survived both Clinton and Obama. Democrats will have to choose bewteen appealing to the American mainstream and losing support of the base (e.g. Hubert Humphrey, Skip Jackson), or pandering to the radical base and getting trounced in the election (George McGovern, Walter Mondale).
Maxine Waters is an embarrassment to the human race. Her constituents aren’t as stupid as she is. Or are they? They keep voting in this moron over and over and expect her to do something for them. So she moves out of her district into a wealthier area, into a 4 million dollar mansion so she doesn’t have to hear the whining of her poor constituents. Now she lives with all the white people who she hates in the Hancock Park area of Los Angeles. (On Lucerne & 6th)
No,Waters, the oath keepers want to give you a taste of your medecine in full measure. that your chassidim burn the US flag tells alot of your supporters and more than enough of you. why dont you protest the flag burning ESPECIALLY AS US representative….you are in the us representatives like AHMID THIBI in the knesset, both traitors to the country they live in…
Look at the idiot dressed in pink, its our gadolhaborah!
I guess the Oath Keepers didn’t keep their oath…