As the demonstrator who took the worst of the pepper spray in Templeton, I’d like to make clear that we were peacefully gathered, with signs reading “Honk for Democracy” and “Women’s Rights are Human Rights,” signs for our fave candidates, and American flags. Real radical commie stuff, that’s for sure. Nothing more dangerous than a bunch of senior citizens promoting democracy.
We were assaulted by a MAGA radical who evidently intended to assault us, as he drove there and parked blocks away to come confront us. He did, and it resulted in him pepper spraying a whole line of us old folks, as he walked down the entire line attacking everyone, screaming right-wing rubbish as he went.
Sheriff’s deputies (very professional, thank you) came and arrested him, and it was a big mess. And if you’ve never been attacked by pepper spray, it’s a horrible experience lasting hours.
The point of interest here is that this attacker was proud of what he’d done. He dared us to call 911; he thought he was doing the right thing. He didn’t even run away, because he’d done the right thing, and he waited for the police to show up.
He was encouraged to act by political leaders who promote violence to achieve their own selfish goals, who want chaos and civil war so that they can grab power and rule. Steve Bannon and his friends have clearly stated these goals and actively pursue a “burn it down” political plan. This will not work out well for America.
My ask is that everyone thinks clearly about what is going on in America now and whether chaos and civil war and the end of the rule of law is what they want to occur. Because what happened to us on the Templeton overpass is just a sign of what could be our future. For those of you with a historical perspective, think of the Brown Shirts in Germany in the early 1930s, and how they were used as pawns to promote chaos for others who could then destroy the country.
Please, think clearly. We have differences, which need intense discussion by our elected leaders, but the breakdown of democracy will be end of our America.
Dan Cook
Templeton
This article appears in Sep 29 – Oct 9, 2022.
Great points and well presented thoughts. We will always have our differences, but must remember to respect others’ positions and not let the over pubilicized extreme views from both sides tear us down.
Forgive me if I’m not blaming Bannon or other political “Leaders.” Maybe he was motivated by the “Peaceful” burning of cities by the left in 2020.
You’re violence prone attacker, is a well known, pro dead baby, registered democrat. Not even in the most remote imaginative realm of political fantasy, is he a Trump supporter.
Perhaps, you should–as most leftists do not–educate yourself on why the right supports less government, fewer taxes, more personal freedoms, and the Constitution as law (you know, everything opposite of Fascism). This will help you as you flippantly and ignorantly judge others.
While it is impossible to defend the thug who pepper sprayed the Templeton demonstrators, I would be more moved if Mr. Cook extended his indignation to the antifa and other leftist rioters who also employ pepper spray against peaceful protesters. They, also, proudly proclaim the righteousness of their assaults, and promise more.
As for leaders encouraging political violence, perhaps Mr. Cook is thinking of Kamala Harris, who bailed out rioters, or the leftist Representative Cori Bush, who glowingly proclaimed riots as “the language of the unheard”, or Maxine Waters, who encouraged leftists to go after Republicans in public places. And, we all recall the favorite chant of the left, “No Justice No Peace”.
I noticed something peculiar about John Donegan. Whenever anyone talks about violence conducted by the political far-right, he insists on bringing up Black people as the apologists for left-wing violence. I just find that extremely weird due to the irrelevance — mixed with blatant mischaracterizations — and possibly racist undertones.
Whether or not the person who pepper-sprayed Mr. Cook and others is a “MAGA radical,” fact of the matter is that we live in extremely polarizing times. We have a disgraced former president actively encouraging civil war on his platform Truth Social. His supportive hosts on FOX NEWS primetime encourage civil unrest and predict America will be going down a “dark path” (Sean Hannity interview with Donald Trump, 9/22) should the Dept. of Justice become “weaponized” (i.e. Trump getting indicted). The former president has even promised to pardon those who participated in the Jan. 6 insurrection at the Capitol all the while encouraging another one should he lose the presidential race in 2024.
Yes, that person who assaulted Mr. Cook is a registered Democrat. That doesn’t change the fact that those who promote extremist ideologies are also encouraging people like the suspect to act on those ideologies by force. That is the quintessential MAGA mindset.
Well, at least Mr. Ochs has the honesty to admit that the pepper spray attacker was not the “MAGA radical” described by Mr. Cook, but a Democrat. As the 2020 riots showed, political violence is hardly limited to the right. As for his complaint that I only listed Black folks who advocated violence, I would point out that they are all prominent public figures and, indeed, shamefully include our current Vice President. If you can provide me with the names of prominent white, Latino or Asian figures who also advocate political violence, I will be happy to include them in my Roster of the Shameful.