One Texas state representative is reportedly being provided protection by the Texas Deptartment of Public Safety (DPS) following a scuffle on the floor of the Texas House of Representatives, which reportedly began when State Rep. Matt Rinaldi called U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in response to disruptive demonstrators at the Texas State Capitol Monday (see video below).
The demonstrators were opposed to SB 4, a sanctuary cities ban, a bill that had already been passed by the Texas Legislature and signed into law. They chanted, “Hey, hey, ho, ho, SB 4 has got to go.” Some were seen sporting Mexican flags, and many wore red T-shirts with clenched fists and held their left arms up in a pose not unlike the communist clenched fist salute.
As Christian Gomez explained in 2015 in his well researched article for The New American about the pedigree of the clenched-fist salute:
The clenched fist, which is a favorite symbol and gesture of … the Occupy movement and Black Lives Matter, is entirely revolutionary and communist. And even though many of the demonstrators/rioters using the gesture and sporting brochures and signs emblazoned with the symbol have little or no knowledge of its origin and meaning, we can be sure that the principal organizers promoting its usage understand precisely the importance of ingraining this — and similar symbols — into the popular culture.
Representative Rinaldi posted this on his Facebook Page shortly after altercation:
Today, Representative Poncho Nevarez threatened my life on the House floor after I called ICE on several illegal immigrants who held signs in the gallery which said “I am illegal and here to stay.” Several Democrats encouraged the protestors to disobey law enforcement. When I told the Democrats I called ICE, Representative Ramon Romero physically assaulted me, and other Democrats were held back by colleagues. During that time Poncho told me that he would “get me on the way to my car.” He later approached me and reiterated that “I had to leave at some point, and he would get me.” I made it clear that if he attempted to, in his words, “get me,” I would shoot him in self defense. I am currently under DPS protection. Several of my colleagues heard the threats made and witnessed Ramon assaulting me.
Representative Pat Fallon, a fellow Republican, Posted this on his Facebook page:
UGLY INCIDENT ON THE LAST DAY ON THE HOUSE FLOOR. Many Dems surrounded Rep Matt Rinaldi & began hurling insults & threats because he dared to comment on the unruly protest that had erupted in the gallery. I immediately stepped in at his side to chastise members who chose to abandon decorum and replace it wt school yard bullying.
Fallon also posted:
Video footage of the heated altercation on the TX House Floor confirms our role as peacemaker in an ugly incident that never should have happened. Physical threats, intimidation & schoolyard bullying have absolutely NO place in the Texas House Chamber!
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The Democrat lawmakers held a news conference in Austin telling their side of the story. They described the demonstration as orderly and likened the protesters to the early American patriots who dumped tea in Boston Harbor at the Boston Tea Party. A number of them said they heard Representative Rinaldi say he’d put a bullet in the head of a fellow lawmaker and was looking in the direction of Representative Poncho Navarez at the time. Texas Democratic Party Executive Director Manny Garcia insisted:
Texas Republicans are showing their true racist colors. The disrespect shown this legislative session to Texans of color and the lawmakers who represent them is disgusting. … Texans will ensure that Republican Matt Rinaldi’s pathetic political career and dangerous agenda comes to an end.
There are reports that an official investigation will be requested. If so, it is to be hoped that it will also include a discovery of who organized and financed the demonstration and ask why the demonstrators were giving clenched-fist salutes.
Photo of demonstrators in Texas Capitol, May 29, 2017: AP Images
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