Police arrested a man who allegedly rode his motorcycle through demonstrators at a San Francisco healthcare protest.
Organized by Bay Resistance and Senior and Disability Action, the “die-in” was staged outside the San Francisco Federal Building on Wednesday, blocking the street as activists lay in the road to protest the GOP healthcare bill.
A spokeswoman for Bay Resistance said the man traveling the wrong way on the street on a red motorcycle was “definitely targeting us,” according to CBS.
“Everyone thought he was just confused, but he didn’t stop, and at some point it became clear he was going to come through the crowd and people jumped out of the way,” Emily Lee said.
“He was definitely targeting us,” she said. “It was unclear if it was for political reasons or if he was just mentally unstable or what, but it was terrifying.”
A shorter video clip showing just the motorcycle scene can be watched below:
GIVE THIS MAN A MEDAL. “Motorcyclist DELIBERATELY rides through a group of protesters staging a die-in” https://t.co/aTRdzcGozD pic.twitter.com/QrUaneGzPT
— Mathiadon? (@Mathiadon) June 22, 2017
Video of the incident shows the driver coming through the protesters, though it does not appear he was targeting anyone. In fact, he seemed to be driving rather slowly, although he did continue to push through, clearly terrifying the demonstrators who jumped out of the way.
He allegedly turned to come back through the same way, according to Lee, when federal police officers who were present ordered him to stop. One of the officers reportedly pulled out his gun when the driver did not initially follow orders to dismount the motorcycle.
Charges were not yet determined and no injuries reported, according to Police Officer Robert Rueca, CBS reported.
Some witnesses and viewers of the video footage believe the driver was intending to harm the protesters, as media reports indicated he plowed through the crowd and supposedly identified the man, though police had not yet released that information.
Motorcycle registered to SF resident Jeffrey Dillon; admin of a FB group “White Privilege Club.” https://t.co/M5iHuKbngr #protest #resist
— Eddie Hernandez (@eddieh__) June 21, 2017
Shocking moment motorcyclist rides through Trump healthcare protesters https://t.co/RF6rcms9FM via @MailOnline
— Terri Marsh (@TerriMarsh11) June 22, 2017
Motorcyclist Plows Through Healthcare Protest In San Francisco – San Francisco Video https://t.co/oJ9vJBbiq1 https://t.co/zeOIMsJCpM
— San Francisco Info (@SFinformer) June 22, 2017
Others disagreed, calling out the activists for blocking the road.
Why was he in the wrong?? Shocking moment motorcyclist rides through Trump healthcare protesters https://t.co/x4prpZUVsm via @MailOnline
— Adam (@xboxbuckeye) June 22, 2017
Is there more video of this? I can’t figure out what exactly this guy did wrong. He just rode through slowly.https://t.co/BP0xAyjobl
— Jim Mason (@JimBobgraholski) June 22, 2017
Good. Get out of the road: Shocking moment motorcyclist rides through Trump healthcare protestershttps://t.co/RefxUryG2y via @MailOnline
— すごいです (@wroughtirony) June 22, 2017
The debate continued to unfold on Twitter.
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Why weren’t the protestors detained for illegally blocking traffic?? Smh
— Sarah Hayden (@_shayde2) June 22, 2017
Seriously though, don’t lay down in the street. Protest on the sidewalk.
— Randy (@Zirus01) June 22, 2017
Detained? He should be celebrated!
— DoYrJob (@Triplesticks19) June 22, 2017
If they were standing in the middle of the road, I do not feel sorry for them.
— MandL (@slaurie66) June 22, 2017
In case you glossed by the first amendment there is a place for peaceful protest. The police are mandated to uphold the law, not vigilantes!
— yum yum (@YumTower) June 22, 2017
You can peacefully protest in a public space (sidewalk, park, etc.) but you cannot peacefully protest in the street. That would be illegal.
— Texas Gooner (@AFCTexas) June 22, 2017
That man is a hero God bless him
— American TrumpGirl (@SweepTheLeg84) June 22, 2017
But unless the protesters have a permit, they are the ones breaking the law and impeding traffic. #ludicrous
— Nick (@smokintiger) June 22, 2017
I read it! I just don’t agree with protesters blocking our roadways.
— Greg Stewart (@HotTaykz) June 22, 2017
Protesting a bill they haven’t seen. Seems legit.
— MAGA4YAMAMA (@pepe_el_hefe) June 22, 2017
Did you watch the video? He didn’t try to injure anyone. He just drove past them & revved his engine.
— terminalinsanity (@terminsane) June 22, 2017
Stop reading the hyperbole and propaganda. Watch the video. The video has no spin. He clearly tried to avoid running anyone over,
— terminalinsanity (@terminsane) June 22, 2017
It’s called trying to get where you’re going…people with jobs often do it
— Denny T Harbo (@DennyHarbo) June 22, 2017
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Originally from New York, Powers graduated from New York University and eventually made her way to sunny South Florida where she has been writing for the BizPacReview team since 2015.
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