"The comment on X by state representative John Gillette of Kingman, Arizona, first reported by the Arizona Mirror, was a reaction to a short clip drawn from a YouTube video in March by US representative Pramila Jayapal, a longtime Democratic congresswoman representing Washington state, entitled The Resistance Lab. In the video, Jayapal discusses preparations for street protests against the Trump administration. Until people like this, that advocate for the overthrow of the American government are tried, convicted and hanged it will continue, he posted."
"Nothing in either the clip or the longer video actually suggests Jayapal is advocating for the overthrow of the US government. The video carries explicit calls for non-violent protest and discussed with alarm a rise in political violence in the US. Gillette's comment is a continuation of a string of inflammatory far-right online invective by the Mohave county Republican and retired army reserve command sergeant major."
"Gillette has defended January 6protesters, who were intent on violently overturning Trump's defeat by Joe Biden in the 2020 presidential election, as political prisoners and described Muslims as terrorists. It also reflects a widening call among Republicans to criminalize protest and speech critical of the Trump administration. Gillette has not yet responded to a request from the Guardian for comment."
Arizona state representative John Gillette posted on X calling for Democratic congresswoman Pramila Jayapal to be tried, convicted and hanged after sharing a clip from her March YouTube video The Resistance Lab. The clip and full video call for non-violent protest and express concern about rising political violence, and do not advocate overthrowing the US government. Gillette has a history of inflammatory far-right online remarks, including defending January 6 protesters as political prisoners and describing Muslims as terrorists. The episode aligns with broader Republican efforts to criminalize protest and speech critical of the Trump administration.
Read at www.theguardian.com
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