Michael Brooks
In 2020, a group of Catholics gathered to pray at the statue of King Louis IX in St. Louis, Missouri. The statue was the subject of controversy, with some calling for its removal due to Louis IX's historical antisemitism and Islamophobia. The gathering was organized by Umar Lee, a Muslim and activist, who had petitioned to remove all symbols of King Louis IX from the city, named after the king by French colonizers in 1764. Lee's group clashed with counter-protestors, including members of the Proud Boys and other alt-right and white nationalist groups. While there were reports of violence and claims that a man was attacked by BLM activists, these claims were disputed, and the man was not part of the Catholic contingent. The incident sparked debates about racial justice, statue removal, and the role of Catholics in the Black Lives Matter movement.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date | July 2020 |
| Location | Forest Park, St. Louis |
| Occasion | "Stop Hate and Racism" gathering |
| Participants | Catholics, alt-right groups, Black Lives Matter activists |
| Reason | Dispute over the removal of the statue of King Louis IX |
| Outcome | Violence and clashes between groups |
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What You'll Learn
A man was attacked, but he was not part of a Catholic group
In 2020, a man was attacked during a protest in St. Louis, Missouri. The protest was held by a group of Catholics and alt-right activists, including white supremacists, who wanted to prevent the removal of a statue of King Louis IX. The statue was erected in 1906 and activists wanted it removed because of Louis IX's historical antisemitism.
Social media users circulated an image of the man being attacked, claiming that he was part of the Catholic group and that he was attacked by members of Antifa and Black Lives Matter. However, this claim is misleading. The man, who was wearing a green shirt, was not part of the Catholic contingent praying at the base of the statue. He approached protesters near the conclusion of the gathering as people were dispersing. In a series of Facebook posts, the man, who identified himself as the person who was punched, said that he had a knife in his pocket and described the protest as a "jihad rally". He also challenged one of the organizers to a "duel of swords".
The man in the green shirt was identified as Paul. Paul wrote on Facebook that he "applauded" his attacker because he was told that he was a member of the KKK. He also said that he did not pull out the knife until after the altercation, as a show of strength against the "Radical Muslim Group" that organized the counter-protest. Terrance Page, the man who struck Paul, told KMOV that he believed some of the people at the protest were part of terrorist groups and that they needed to be met with force.
While there were Catholics who attended the event in good faith, the group also included individuals who aligned themselves with hate groups such as the Proud Boys and other white nationalist ideologies. This prayer event was organized by the proprietor of a far-right conspiracy website. While there were Black Lives Matter activists present at this event, it was not an official BLM protest.
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The man was a member of the KKK
In July 2020, a man was assaulted during a protest in St. Louis, Missouri. The man, named Paul, was wearing a green shirt and was punched. Photographs of the incident were captured by the Louis Post-Dispatch.
Social media users circulated claims that the man was part of a group of Catholics holding hands and praying the rosary underneath the statue of King Louis IX. These claims were misleading and inaccurate. A Reuters photographer at the scene confirmed that there was no indication that Paul was part of the Catholic contingent. Instead, he approached protesters near the conclusion of the gathering as people were dispersing.
Paul himself stated on Facebook that he "applauded" his attacker because he had been identified as a member of the Ku Klux Klan (KKK). He wrote:
> "I applaud the guy for hitting me; because he was told that I was a KKK member by Regional Muslim Action Network and Tishaura Jones (our treasurer for St Louis)."
Paul also addressed a separate photograph in which he was holding a knife at the protest. He explained that he did not brandish the knife until after the altercation, as he was leaving, to show strength and resolve against the "Radical Muslim Group" that organized the counter-protest.
The protest in St. Louis involved a clash between two groups. One group demanded the removal of the statue of King Louis IX, arguing that it represented generations of hate due to Louis IX's historical antisemitism and Islamophobia. The other group, which included individuals who identified as Catholics and alt-right white supremacists, stood in defense of the statue.
While there were likely Catholics who attended the event in good faith, the presence of white nationalist groups like the Proud Boys complicates the narrative that this was solely a peaceful gathering of Catholics. The man who was punched, Paul, was not part of the Catholic group and had been identified as a member of the KKK, which may have contributed to the altercation.
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The man was punched after pink liquid was poured on him
In July 2020, a man was punched in St. Louis, Missouri, after a pink liquid was poured on him. This incident occurred during a clash between two groups with opposing views. One group, including Catholics and members of the alt-right, supported the retention of a statue of King Louis IX, while the other group, including Black Lives Matter activists, advocated for its removal due to the historical antisemitism of the king.
The man who was punched, identified as "Paul" in social media posts, approached the protesters as people were dispersing. He was not a part of the Catholic group praying at the statue but had a knife in his pocket and had challenged one of the organizers to a duel. Paul wrote on Facebook that he "applauded" his attacker because he believed he was told he was a member of the KKK. Terrance Page, the man who punched Paul, stated that he believed some protesters were part of terrorist groups and met with force.
The presence of the Proud Boys and other white nationalist groups at the event caused tension. While there were Catholics who attended in good faith, the event was organized by the proprietor of a far-right conspiracy website. The Black Lives Matter activists present were not officially part of the BLM movement, and their actions do not reflect the movement's core values of peace and justice.
The statue of King Louis IX has been a source of controversy due to the king's historical antisemitism and Islamophobia. Louis IX was the only king of France to be canonized in the Catholic Church, and the city of St. Louis was named after him. However, he was responsible for burning thousands of copies of the Talmud, the Jewish holy book, and used seized funds from Jewish moneylenders to finance crusades against Muslims.
The incident in St. Louis highlights the complex dynamics between different groups with varying ideologies. While the man who was punched did not appear to be a part of the Catholic group, the presence of knives and violent rhetoric indicates a concerning level of aggression. The statue of King Louis IX continues to be a focal point for discussions and debates surrounding racial justice and historical representation.
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The Catholic group included members of hate groups
In 2020, a group of Catholics gathered to pray at the statue of King Louis IX in St. Louis, Missouri. The statue was the subject of controversy, with some calling for its removal due to Louis IX's historical antisemitism and Islamophobia. While the prayer event was organised by a Catholic group, it was also attended by individuals associated with hate groups, such as the Proud Boys, and other white nationalist ideologies.
The Catholic group found itself at the centre of a clash with protestors advocating for the statue's removal. This group included members of Black Lives Matter (BLM), although it is important to note that this was not an official BLM protest. Tensions rose, and an altercation broke out between the two sides.
One particular incident gained attention on social media, with images circulating that claimed members of BLM and Antifa had attacked a group of Catholics holding hands and praying. However, this claim has been disputed. While it is true that an individual was attacked, there is no evidence that he was part of the Catholic contingent. In fact, the man in question has since stated that he was a member of the KKK and had been carrying a knife at the protest.
It is worth noting that the presence of individuals associated with hate groups within the Catholic group contributed to the tensions and the negative portrayal of the event. The Catholic group's defence of the statue, which represented historical antisemitism and Islamophobia, and their association with these hate groups, complicated the narrative and fuelled the clash with protestors advocating for racial justice and reconciliation.
While the event did involve a Catholic group, the presence of members of hate groups and the subsequent altercation with protestors, including BLM activists, highlights the complex dynamics at play in this incident.
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The prayer event was organized by a far-right conspiracy website
In 2020, a group of Catholics gathered at the statue of King Louis IX in St. Louis, Missouri, to pray for peace and unity in the city and for the protection of the statue. The statue was the subject of controversy, with some calling for its removal due to Louis IX's historical antisemitism and Islamophobia.
A man named Paul, who was wearing a green shirt, was attacked during the protest. Social media users circulated images and claims that members of Antifa and Black Lives Matter (BLM) attacked a group of Catholics holding hands and praying. However, these claims are misleading and inaccurate. While there were instances of violence and confrontations between Catholics and BLM activists, the man in the green shirt was not part of the Catholic group. A Reuters photographer at the scene confirmed that the man approached protesters near the conclusion of the gathering as people were dispersing.
The prayer event was organized by Jim Hoft, proprietor of the far-right conspiracy website "The Gateway Pundit." While there were Catholics who attended the event in good faith, the group also included individuals associated with hate groups such as the Proud Boys and other white nationalist ideologies. Umar Lee, one of the organizers of the "Stop Hate and Racism" gathering, emphasized that the issue was not with Catholics or priests but with the presence of alt-right and white nationalist groups.
The presence of these groups created a tense environment, with one-to-one shouting matches and altercations occurring between the two sides. The situation escalated when Paul, who was associated with the anti-statue group, had a pink liquid poured on him, followed by an altercation where he was punched. While Paul wrote on Facebook that he "applauded" his attacker due to misinformation about his KKK affiliation, he also mentioned having a knife during the protest.
The incident highlights the complex dynamics of racial justice protests and the potential for counter-protests to be co-opted by extremist groups. It underscores the importance of accurate reporting and context in understanding the motivations and actions of various parties involved.
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Frequently asked questions
No, but there was an altercation between a group of BLM protesters and a group of Catholics and alt-right white supremacists. The clash occurred during a prayer event at the statue of King Louis IX, which the former group wanted to be removed.
The exact sequence of events is unclear, but a man wearing a green shirt was punched by a BLM protester. The man, who was holding a knife at the protest, was accused of being a member of the KKK.
The BLM group wanted to remove the statue of King Louis IX because he was antisemitic and orchestrated the burning of thousands of copies of the Talmud. The Catholic group wanted to keep the statue.
Yes, in addition to BLM protesters and Catholics, there were also alt-right white supremacists, including members of the Proud Boys, present at the event.
Yes, there have been reports of BLM rallies turning violent and attacking Catholic statues and priests. There have also been calls to action for Catholics to stand up and defend their churches and communities.
