‘All Lives Matter’ protester compares being LGBT+ with pedophilia and calls for Democrats to be shot while Trump supporters cheer on
Marcus Edwards speaking at a Trump rally (Twitter)
An “All Lives Matter” protester can be heard equating LGBT+ identities with paedophilia and calling for Democrats to be shot dead in the street in a disturbing video shared on social media.
The protester, identified as Marcus Edwards on Twitter, made his shocking remarks during a Trump rally in Salem, Oregon, which he reportedly attended as part of an “All Lives Matter” group.
“All this LGBT+ agenda, paedophilia is next,” Edwards can be heard saying in the video.
“They told us we were crazy, they told us we were homophobic, when the God’s honest truth is this paedophilia agenda is being normalised and is being pushed forward.”
He continued: “I am a God fearing man, but I think these Democratic leaders who allowed this to happen should be shot dead in the streets.”
LGBT+ people in Oregon shocked by the All Lives Matter protesters comments.
His incitement to violence was met with cheers from the crowd.
Edwards’ comments have been widely condemned by members of the LGBT+ community, as well as Democrats in Oregon.
“I’m in tears out of fear because there’s no other translation than I, a Dem, LGBT+, elected official should be shot dead,” Paige Hook, a city councillor tweeted.
“Me and anyone that supports me. Me and everyone of my LGBT+ elected Dem friends. I’m a good person. I called this in. This isn’t OK.”
Thanks for sharing this. I’m in tears out of fear because there’s no other translation than I, a Dem, LGBTQ, elected official should be shot dead. Me & anyone that supports me. Me & everyone of my LGBTQ elected Dem friends. I’m a good person. I called this in. This isn’t okay.
— Paige Hook (she/her) (@PaigeForOregon) September 7, 2020
Many Twitter users said Edwards’ comments amounted to a direct incitement to violence.
Footage of the rally was also shared on Reddit, where people called out Edwards for playing into the age-old and dangerous trope that LGBT+ people are in some way linked to paedophilia.
I’m in tears out of fear because there’s no other translation than I, a Dem, LGBT+, elected official should be shot dead.
Edwards made his comments using a bullhorn branded with 45, in reference to Donald Trump, who is the 45th president of the United States.
This is not the first time Edwards has stoked controversy with his “All Lives Matter” group. in July, he led a group of 200 protesters in Springfield, Ontario, as part of a march opposing the Black Lives Matter movement.
