ARMED CITIZENS ARRIVE AT PROTEST IN SOMERVILLE AFTER THREATS MADE AGAINST BUSINESSES
PROTESTORS SAY BUSINESS THREATS DID NOT COME FROM THEM
Tensions were high between two separate groups at a protest in Somerville over the weekend, after police say a threat was made against a pair of local businesses.
According to Police Chief Craig Wise, he and the Burleson County Sheriff’s Office had to keep a small group of police brutality protesters from the area and an armed group of citizens separate from each other at a scheduled protest Saturday night, after the owners of Rockin’ MC Rustic Furniture and Mama’s Kitchen reported violent threats against their businesses.
Wise said the threats came after the furniture store owner made a comment on social media that he would later apologize for. Threats were also raised against Mama’s Kitchen after rumors suggested the restaurant called in the group of armed individuals, which Wise said was untrue.
Update @ 3:30 p.m.: Wise said he believes neither of the feuding groups were from Somerville. However, Ann Marie Ureste, one of the protestors Saturday night, said the unarmed group present Saturday consisted of many local residents, including family members of Chester Jackson, Jr., the Somerville man who ended up on life support at a hospital in Austin after a series of events during his time in Burleson County custody last year. Ureste said the small group, called “Voices for the Cause”, has never tied itself to a larger movement such as Black Lives Matter, while others in the group said they did not make any threats toward any business in Somerville.
Several videos surfaced on social media of the armed group, one of them showing three men, armed with long guns, walking directly through the group of protestors. According to Burleson County Chief Deputy John Pollock, there were approximately seven people in the armed group. Pollock and Wise denied claims made on social media that the armed individuals had ties to a white supremacist group, but could not say if they had ties to any overarching group.
Ureste claimed that Somerville police did not intervene or check on the protestors when the armed group walked through them, adding it was only after the Sheriff’s Office provided assistance that police asked the armed group to move away from the protestors.
Both Wise and Pollock said the groups ultimately remained peaceful and cooperative with authorities, never violating any laws. Pollock said while the group of people carrying firearms remained “appropriate” with the guns, he does believe the incident of the armed group walking through the protestors carried a “certain level of intimidation”. Wise said the police department is “still piecing things together” in the investigation.
I know about the first amendment BUT I wish that folks who don’t actually live here would take care of business at home. Those folks with the guns at Mama’s Kitchen don’t live here and neither does Glynda Jerkins. All this stink would be over if those folks had stayed home. Which police are being brutal in Somerville? Chester Jackson’s people need to protest in Caldwell or Austin….
Deeply disturbed to hear this foolishness was taking place in my little town. I was away for the death of my mom, which was bad enough, but this situation is foolish. Police are in charge, not Bubba with a gun. All that does is incite violence. I live here with five little kids. Why? Certainly not because of small minds, but because children can grow up belonging to a simple, diverse community, where they participate in parades and are known and loved. I support every business. I would not stay in this town to allow the innocent children to feel a part of violence, bigotry, or this recent ugliness.
I read the comment the owner made, it was not about racism. The business owners were warned about ANTIFA showing up and tension was high. It was a protest about hiring a woman who’s husband killed a Hispanic man, not about BLM. He apologized and said he was insensitive to the family. I’m not sure the person starting the trouble knows what a racist white supremest is, but I can tell you that if a person of color other than white was to ask for an apology that would not happen. Also the mayor should be ashamed of himself! He is suppose to be for the people, all the people. If the person that started this was a good Christian they would have excepted the apology and said a prayer for the person. Instead of spreading hate they should have asked for prayers for the people they think are so evil.
OH. MY. GOD!!!!!!!
Dusty, the walking back and forth in very close proximity with high powered artillery to those peacefully protesting was designed to intimidate. However, the ladies and the child did not flinch. If God be for us, who can be against us?
Now, about tearing up businesses: I can’t see that someone would threaten to do that. Think about it…If someone tore up a business or businesses where will they run and hide in Somerville?
Dusty, it is good that you are willing to dialogue.
As someone who was not a part of either group, this picture of the three masked men with their military looking weapons is scary. The very idea that they are there to “back up” law enforcement, but completely lacking in professional law enforcement training, not a part of law enforcement, and clearly trying to hid who they are is a terrible image from a time in the south that I do not ever want to see happen again. I don’t really agree with Black Lives Matter and some of the violent protests they seem to be a part of around the country, but this does not seem to be right at all. In my opinion this is going much to far and appears to be some form of intimidation for what should have been peaceful protestors. Is this really what our nation is becoming? I don’t want to think this is where we are at when you have groups of armed people creating a stand off in small town America. The protests in Brenham were peaceful and seemed friendly enough and I applaud those people who decided to protest peacefully. You earned my respect and your points deserve to be listened to. However, masked and armed men showing up at a protest in this area seems to be exactly the kind of thing we need to avoid. I hope those of you who decided to do this will reconsider next time, spoiling for a fight could put our wonderful area into the news in a bad way and really hurt all people in our community. Please think with more wisdom next time!
I was one if the “armed Individuals” present Saturday.
I am a Veteran as were most if the others present. We are Constitutional Patriots. Our presense was never intended or conducted in a manner a normal person would concider “threatning”.
We were there for 3 reasons and only three rasons.
1) the police Chief REQUESTED our presence but insisted that we cover our faces to prevent any kind of backlash and retaliation.
2) We were requested by 2 businesses to protect their property from the damage threatened specifically towards them.
3) To stand in defense of the Constitutional rights of the protestors should a problem erupt between the local PD and the protesters. The only thing said/yelled from our group towards the protesters was that “I give free hugs, we love you” and after being screamed and cussed at while being called a Klansman “the offer for the hug still stands”.
We explained multiple times that we were not there to start a problem to both the Sherrif who is a tyrant (his resignation was requested by the community a week ago) and to the protesters. The instigators of the whole situation and the source of the false narratives and information between the groups and law enforcement is the Mayor and his wife. They were driving around trying to excite our group into a reaction situation. The Guardians of the Constitution however did not fall for their attempts to start controversy. The mayor was responcible for the sherrif getting involved and threatening the Veteran Patriots standing vigil over the local properties and businesses. The Protesting was never at any time inappropriate or out of control. I will not say “peaceful” because it was a protest which by definition is a distraction form normality and peace.
I am the member of a Texas Militia group as well as a Search and Rescue organization. Both services require me to be impartial to such petty distractions like racial lines or discrimination. I myself, nor any other member of the Armed Patriots present that day/night have ever been a member of a racial group. Our CP ranks swell with those of different colors and backgrounds. We do not tolerate racism or hatred in the TRUE groups. The situation Saturday was a baited trap devised by the local mayor and his wife to solicit attention and funds by trying to incite racial issues and division into a community that has no issues; and to excite militias into a racial war.
Say what!?!? There have been some lies being told! First, we pay the police to police! If law enforcement needs extra back up then hire more police who have the training, expertise and authorization of the state to perform legal duties. These so called militia or patriot groups do not have the training to “police” any community. Knowing how to fire a gun does not qualify you to perform law enforcement duties. They show up to intimidate and coerce and leverage. Their presence escalates an already explosive situation. It is not a crime to protest or petition our government for change. Period! The purpose of any protest does not have to meet the approval of the so called elite establishment in any town. Period. If you do not agree with the purpose of a particular protest you are free to remain closed up in your home. If protesters break the law … well that is why we have law enforcement. Last time I checked “threats” are not a punishable offense! If they were the jails would be filled to over flowing capacity! Calm down folks. It is going to be alright! Just as soon as justice rolls down like water and righteousness as a mighty stream!
The patriots at yorktown, saratoga and concord werent official military personnel either
Because law enforcement is doing a great job with Chaz….
A group of 3-7 armed white men legally and lawfully carrying rifles in public. Now close your eyes and imagine they were BLACK (3-7 armed BLACK men legally and lawfully carrying rifles in public).
To that you have to imagine black men armed and deputized by
The law to protect business from being threatened and citizens from being intimidated by a white and black infantile mob. Im so good with that that I’d recommend compensation for those black men from the collected fines of those white people. This is not about race, not for decades now. The protests are violence.
Wow, it’s really sad that this is happening. I am sickened by anyone who think that black lives don’t matter, god don’t see color and in his eyes we are all the same. I’m so sorry to all my friends that have been effected by such an injustice, I just want to say a little respect goes a long way, no matter what color you are.
Life is to short to keep pointing finger at one another. Please god help us all to be more tolerant of one another, help us to love each other help us build peace and Prosperity.
In a live video the organizer of this event Glenda Jerkins who goes by Michelle Jerkins on facebook says that she is going to call her people and names the black panthers to be exact. and then says she is getting license plate numbers and turning those to her people so that they can take care of it.
This is the only post I will address. I have not been address by this news and for the record my name is misspelled. I’m the one who organized the protest ,what should have been a peaceful protest against POLICE BRUTALITY END OF STORY….As stated IN post given above the organized gunman were asked to be there by the cheif of police while in previous post they named the mayor and many other. Nevertheless, it was the manner and the attempt to harass, incite an riot and or endanger us especially while walking through us brandishing their weapons. The reaction we saw and recieved from the City police indicated they would and did do nothing. So with gunmen in disguise if you most pull on anything to defend your actions Make sure to name them all from the City administrators to the friends watching on live. I’m affiliated with the black Panthers and if I can’t call the police who was present the question is who did you suggest I call? Perhaps the grand wizard. Let’s make it clear my people were called rather citizens, business owners., school board members and administrators or my references to the black panthers watching it unfold. If you have an issue with us calling out for help the first thing done should have been to remove the stressor that were brandishing weapons in an attempt to incite a riot with love and guns of course. We were not on business property or committing no crimes to be surcome to such harsh and intimidating behavior from citizens of Somerville. Any negativity surrounding what happened and being in defense is what the guilty party has continued to do since that day. I’m just collecting the names of those who imposed the threat to myself, 11 women, and 2 children. We had signs and posters they had assualt guns and makes. They came to protect. We had no protection. It was premeditated planned out act of terrorism at Somerville best.
TERRORISM: THE UNLAWFUL USE OF VIOLENCE AND INTIMIDATION, ESPECIALLY AGAINST CIVILIANS. IN THE PURSUIT OF POLITICAL AIMS… BECAUSE NOW IT’S IN THE MAYOR INSTEAD OF THE PROTEST ITSELF.
Thank you,
#VOICESfortheCAUSE
THE CAUSE WAS AND STILL IS POLICE BRUTALITY.
I have been following this protest and reading the comments. What I read was that she was turning the license plates over to the proper authority. No mention of the Black panther party. Please do not involve them in this. Now I did read where of the gone toting citizens mentioned Antifah. That party probably knows nothing about your town.
The Patriots to the north end of town were awaiting trouble that never came. We were told buildings may burn that day. That was not going to be allowed..We were there to back up the Somerville PD IF they needed us. The mayor Micheal Bradford called us white supremacists ….that is such bull! There were numerous town’s people there ready to stop Antifa infiltrators….and Not to bother the protesters. Protesting is fine as it as been here locally for over a week now. That said, We will not let rioters burn and loot and hurt…..PERIOD
The Patriots were on the end of town towards Brenham when I drove by. That is the South End of Somerville. You should not need a drone to figure that out.
Are these so called “patriots” licensed law enforcement officers? They had the appearance of a gangland vigilante group that wants to usurp authority from those certified by the State as law enforcement. Militia groups come in all colors, cultures and ethnic groups!