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A protester at a Los Angeles campaign event hosted by California gubernatorial candidate Tom Steyer pulled a knife on his staff — as angry agitators blocked his SUV while shouting down the progressive billionaire.
Steyer had been attending a gathering last Saturday at ORA Cafe in Leimert Park, during which he told a crowd of black voters that they are owed a “gigantic debt” and that the black community is “the moral leader of the United States,” journalist Maeve Reston reported.
The event took a turn when a group of protesters arrived and things turned ugly.
“Tom attended an event in Leimert Park last Saturday to meet voters,” a Steyer spokesperson told The California Post.
“After the event was over, staff escorted him to a vehicle in the alleyway because protesters were present, including one individual who had pulled a knife on campaign staff. The campaign did not contact CHP or request a security escort.”
Video of a confrontation between agitators and Steyer’s team in the alley showed several individuals scuffling as protesters screamed at the billionaire as he apparently took shelter in his SUV.
“What’s your position on reparations, Tom Steyer? How are you going to cut the check?” one yelled, referring to Steyer’s support of paying the descendants of enslaved black Americans during his failed 2020 presidential bid.
“Don’t ever come back to Africatown,” another shouted at the vehicle tried to pull.
A third walked toward the SUV’s driver side and appeared to condemn Steyter directly.
“Hey Tom Steyer, I better not catch you over here with those devil blue eyes. I better not catch you over here Tom Steyer,” he said.
Reston reported that Steyer wasn’t able to leave until a California Highway Police officer arrived.
Protester Dennae Wright, a 44-year-old social worker, told the journalist that she wasn’t surprised by the protest.
“Black people are really kind of tired of the Democratic Party always coming around during election season for our votes,” Wright said. “It’s a brand new day. You can’t come over here offering us symbolism, dancing, singing, pats on the back, and think we’re gonna vote for you.”
Democratic State Sen. Lola Smallwood-Cuevas, who co-hosted the event with Steyer, praised the candidate for showing up but showed little surprise at the protest.
“This is Leimert Park and this is where Africatown protests, so we knew that going in, but I appreciate that Tom is courageous and he meets the community where they’re at,” Smallwood-Cuevas told Reston. “He’s always been on the front line and I think that’s what people packed the house today to see.”
Steyer is considered a top candidate for California governor.
An Emerson College poll conducted earlier this month showed the billionaire tied for second place with Republican Steve Hilton at 17% support. Xavier Becerra led the poll with 19% support.
It’s unclear if Steyer can make the top two when voters after voters hit the polls for the June 2 primary. Becerra and Hilton have consistently polled better than the progressive.
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