Riddhi Patel, 28, an anti-Israeli protestor, was arrested by Bakersfield police for threatening to ‘murder’ lawmakers at a city council meeting on April 10th.
Patel, who identifies as non-binary, was protesting the town council’s decision to install metal detectors at City Hall at a public forum chaired by Mayor Karen Goh; they then denounced lawmakers for refusing to support a ceasefire resolution on the Israel-Gaza crisis.
“You guys are all horrible human beings,” Patel shouted, ending their diatribe with a threat. “You guys want to criminalize us with metal detectors? We’ll see you at your house, we’ll murder you.”
Patel was let go by their former employer, the non-profit The Center on Race, Poverty and the Environment (CRPE), which condemned all threats of violence or unethical behavior.
In a statement, the pro-Palestinian activist group, United Liberation Front, whose ceasefire resolution Patel was championing, also condemned Patel’s remarks. “The comments in question made tonight by a speaker run counter to our values and do not represent United Liberation Front.”
Kern County Superior Court charged Patel with 18 felonies for threatening city officials in California with terroristic intent. The Court issued a protective order restricting Patel from going within 500 yards of ten individuals, including five Council members and Mayor Karen Goh. Patel is currently being held on $1 million bail.
This series was made possible in part by funding provided by the State of California, administered by the California State Library in partnership with the California Department of Social Services and the California Commission on Asian and Pacific Islander American Affairs as part of the Stop the Hate program.