ST LOUIS, MO – As if rioting, looting, vandalizing statues, general assaults and murders weren’t enough already when observing the Black Lives Matter protests – you can now add assaulting Christians who were peacefully praying at a demonstration to the list of reasons to admonish the current “movement.”
Because nothing says you’re against police brutality more than attacking people who were simply praying.
Attack Catholics Praying, Elderly Man Who Were Protecting King Louis IX Statue https://t.co/NXv5emJ59r
— CBN News (@CBNNews) June 29, 2020
The violence started when people were gathering outside of the King Louis IX statue located in St. Louis’ Forest Park on June 27th. Umar Lee was said to have been the organizer of the Black Lives Matter rally that was slated for the 27th aimed at protesting the statue in question.
The monument has been present within the park for over 100 years, and has served as a symbol of faith for many based upon his endeavors of being a devout Catholic and aiding in the construction of the famous Sainte-Chapelle.
About a dozen St. Louis police officers have formed a line between those saying prayers and those who want the King Louis IX statue removed. pic.twitter.com/9XJTkHHszf
— Joel Currier (@joelcurrier) June 27, 2020
However, to the protesters who were organizing the rally against the statue of the King Louis IX, they stated that he was “anti-Semitic, Islamophobic, and an anti-black crusader,” and Lee also added:
“He does not need to be on public property overlooking our city.”
Apparently, Lee must have missed the part where King Louis IX was also the only French monarch to have been venerated as a saint.
I’m guessing people forgot that the Crusades, where King Louis IX was involved during his tenure, were a direct response to Muslim conquests of Christian territories that happened prior to. https://t.co/lKEybli122
— Greg Hoyt (@GregHoytLET) June 29, 2020
Plus, the city of St. Louis is literally named after the French King. But that aspect hasn’t escaped Lee, as the BLM organizer is also trying to circulate a petition to rename the city.
When people arrived to simply demonstrate in support of the statue, that’s when violence reportedly broke out. One man, pictured below, was seen getting brutally assaulted by one of the rioters present.
At that moment someone in the crowd poured an unidentified liquid on the older man, pictured below protecting his head, and was then attacked by a violent individual, also pictured below attacking the elderly man.
3/8 pic.twitter.com/3f42ArYcFl
— Conor Martin (@CMartinForMO) June 28, 2020
Conor Martin, who was present during the protests, stated that the elderly gentleman assaulted during the protest was able to be removed from the area to safety:
“We got the elderly man out of there, and I was about to leave to retrieve my lunch as a friend of mine had just come over to tell me my food had arrived. The mob then approached him. They asked if he was with me, and when he said yes they began to berate him.”
They took his walking stick from him and when he didn’t react they knocked his hat off of his head, called him a skin head, and attacked him. At this point I intervened to pull the attacker off of my friend, and I was attacked by the mob and the attacker.
5/8
— Conor Martin (@CMartinForMO) June 28, 2020
Video showed the mob beginning to turn on those who simply helped the elderly person escape the violence enacted by the riotous individuals present. Martin provided additional context to the video above, stating:
“They took his walking stick from him and when he didn’t react they knocked his hat off of his head, called him a skin head, and attacked him. At this point I intervened to pull the attacker off of my friend, and I was attacked by the mob and the attacker.”
Martin has hopes of pressing charges against the attackers showcased in the video, but is calling for the public’s assistance in being able to identify them.
The righteous must defend themselves, as the it appears the government no longer is. I hope @realDonaldTrump, @GovParsonMO, @HawleyMO, @RoyBlunt, @DrSamPage, @LydaKrewson and all other public officials address this, as if this problem isn’t corrected, it will only get worse.
7/8
— Conor Martin (@CMartinForMO) June 28, 2020
After the events and violence that took place in St. Louis on the 27th, Missouri State Representative Nick Schroer called on officials via Twitter to ensure that the criminals present during this demonstration get prosecuted:
“I call on @StLouisCityCA and @stlouispolice to take action and prosecute these criminals! This is not peaceful protesting, its a criminal attack (with a weapon) upon peaceful protestors. This must not happen in our country and they must be held accountable.”
I call on @StLouisCityCA and @stlouispolice to take action and prosecute these criminals! This is not peaceful protesting, its a criminal attack (with a weapon) upon peaceful protestors. This must not happen in our country and they must be held accountable #moleg @Eric_Schmitt https://t.co/5nTm9qQtVj
— Nick Schroer (@NickBSchroer) June 28, 2020
The fact that Christians are being attacked with impunity on camera for simply praying by a statue of one of the most heralded saints is awfully telling of the state of affairs today.
It’s not just homages to saints that are being targeted, but also Hollywood icons.
Apparently, proponents of the establishment-left are finding something new to be outraged over – and this time it’s about an airport named after “The Duke” himself.
Leaders within the Democratic Party of Orange County are said to be demanding that John Wayne’s name be removed from the local airport because of a near-50-year-old interview Wayne had.
More Woke Panic. https://t.co/QEQ6jxtXYp
— Breitbart News (@BreitbartNews) June 28, 2020
The center of the modern controversy dates back to 1971, eight years before the famous movie star would pass away from stomach cancer, where Wayne was being interviewed by Playboy magazine.
The interview in question did host some unsavory aspects about some of Wayne’s views, and the following excerpt seems to be the most offensive given the current discourse throughout the country:
“With a lot of blacks, there’s quite a bit of resentment along with their dissent, and possibly rightfully so. But we can’t all of a sudden get down on our knees and turn everything over to the leadership of the blacks. I believe in white supremacy until the blacks are educated to a point of responsibility. I don’t believe in giving authority and positions of leadership and judgment to irresponsible people.”
California Democrats Demand Removing John Wayne’s Name From Airport https://t.co/nXx24zs1fM
— Daily Caller (@DailyCaller) June 28, 2020
During the same interview, Wayne also referred to the movie “Midnight Cowboy” as being “a story about two fags,” which has not aged well either.
Some have also taken offense to Wayne saying “I don’t feel we did wrong in taking this great country away from them,” when asked about his stance on Native Americans during the 1971 interview.
Here we go. https://t.co/kmDxa45TEW
— Townhall.com (@townhallcom) June 28, 2020
Obviously, the manner in which Wayne phrased his sentiments at the time aren’t exactly something people would reflect kindly upon today. However, context is rather important, in that these are the words of a man who was born in 1907.
While the Civil Rights Act had already gone into effect seven years prior to the interview, we’re still reflecting on a single interview of someone who was born seven years before World War 1 even started.
Democratic officials want to remove John Wayne’s name from airport https://t.co/lY9xqx3Lxb
— WPXI (@WPXI) June 28, 2020
In turn, a recent resolution was passed by the DPOC that called for the removal of John Wayne’s name and subsequent likeness be removed from the local airport, and to revert the name to the Orange County airport.
According to this resolution, the following was mentioned in reference to Wayne’s name being attributed to the airport:
“The Democratic Party of Orange County condemns John Wayne’s racist and bigoted statements, and calls for John Waynes’ name and likeness to be removed from the Orange County airport, and calls on the OC Board of Supervisors to restore its original name: Orange County Airport.”
Most would realistically be hard-pressed to avoid saying that Wayne’s words weren’t insensitive, but they were just representative of a time long ago as well. If one were to obliterate everything that could be tied to disparaging remarks, sentiments of the past, and so on – the country wouldn’t be left with much history at all.
It’s official. America has gone full pussy. https://t.co/CTL0rVThAV
— Aubrey Huff (@aubrey_huff) June 28, 2020
However, there were some aspects about John Wayne that were what some would have called “progressive” while he was in his youth. In June of 1933, while Wayne was still in his 20s, he’d married Josephine Alicia Saenz (who was of Panamanian descent) after dating her for seven years.
History is complex, and not every aspect of it would live up to the standards of modern political correctness. There were some bright spots, and of course dark periods within American history as well as world history overall.
But at what point will the modern mob of the perpetually offended be satisfied?
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