St. Louis couple who pointed guns at protesters saw threat by 'bad actors,' lawyer says; protester says he feared 'blood bath'
St. Louis Circuit Attorney Kimberly M. Gardner released a statement Monday saying she's "alarmed at the events that occurred over the weekend where peaceful protestors (sic) were met by guns and a violent assault."
Gardner said her office is investigating the incident on Portland Place as well as an assault among protesters Saturday afternoon at the King Louis IX statue atop Art Hill in Forest Park.
"We must protect the right to peacefully protest, and any attempt to chill it through intimidation or threat of deadly force will not be tolerated," Gardner said. "Make no mistake: we will not tolerate the use of force against those exercising their First Amendment rights, and will use the full power of Missouri law to hold people accountable."
On Monday, Rep. Steven Roberts, a St. Louis Democrat running for a state Senate seat, said his campaign won’t keep a $250 contribution he received last year from Mark McCloskey. He said he would donate it to Moms Demand Action, a group that pushes for stricter gun laws.
Campaign finance reports say Mark McCloskey has supported other Democratic candidates including a $3,250 donation to Russ Carnahan in 2016 when the former U.S. representative ran for lieutenant governor. McCloskey also supported Donald Trump’s election in 2016, according to Federal Election Commission records.
