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April 20, 2015· santaclarita.com · SantaClarita.com (SCVTalk 5.0) · Wayback capture

Congressman Tells Protester: 'Touch me again, and I'll drop your ass'

By Mike Devlin

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Anti-immigration protesters were on hand to greet Congressman Steve Knight at the open house for his Simi Valley office last week. And when one got a little too close, the former LAPD cop was having none of it.
“Mike, hey, if you touch me again, I’ll drop your ass.”
An embedded YouTube video appeared here in the original post. View the original — embeds are preserved as links in this archive.
In a video posted this weekend, “Mike” (no relation) appears to have gripped Congressman Knight with an especially stiff, prolonged and snappy handshake, followed by a slap on the back as he accuses Knight of lying to him about “voting for amnesty.” This leads Knight to tersley threaten "Mike," to the simultaneous shock and delight of the protesters.
Just as quickly, Knight snaps back into a more deliberate tone and attempts to walk the crowd through the events that led to him voting on a bill to reauthorize funding for Department of Homeland security, at a time when many House Republicans were trying to use the moment to force a de-funding of President Obama’s recently-enacted immigration reforms. At one point, an exasperated Knight rolls his eyes and exclaims “Good gosh, you never can with this group.”
The group staging the protest was Save Our State, known locally for the pair of protests in 2010 that brought us Bob Kellar’s infamous “proud racist” speech, and most recently for the ill-attended freeway overpass demonstration last year that was promoted by local Republicans, that became more notable for its counter protest:
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On the group’s message board, local SoS activist Greg Aprahamian offers up another video of the exchange in Simi Valley and alleges that Knight called the police on the protesters. 
If you’ve seen videos of their protests around the state, you begin to recognize the same faces pretty quickly – something of a xenophobic carnival act, through several members do appear to live in Knight’s 25th district. SoS exists on the far right flank of the immigration debate, with roots in the White Nationalist movement. Here’s a 2005 quote from their founder, Joe Turner:
"I can make the argument that just because one believes in white separatism that that does not make them a racist... I can make the argument that someone who proclaims to be a white nationalist isn't necessarily a white supremacist. I don't think that standing up for your 'kind' or 'your race' makes you a bad person."
As Knight alludes, this isn’t his first run-in with the group. In recent years, they’ve protested his State Senate office and peppered him with questions at public forums about his supposed soft stance on immigration. Just last month, they crashed the open house for his district HQ in Palmdale.



Comments (37)

  1. N8iTuesday, April 21st, 2015 at 9:41 am
    Hilarious https://youtu.be/XiZexeHAT78
  2. PatHTuesday, April 21st, 2015 at 11:14 am
    I'm glad that he stood up to the crowd and kept his cool - it is very disheartening to see people protesting issues when they haven't read the pertinent information and don't have their facts straight - the least they could do is listen to the facts - I do give credit to the two that said "listen" to the ones trying to shout over him.
  3. CAMavenTuesday, April 21st, 2015 at 10:08 pm
    Actually, most are quite well informed. Here's the whole Steve Knight event story 25th District CA Congressman Knight faces happy and unhappy Constituents (opposed to amnesty). http://citizensjournal.us/25th-district-ca
  4. CAMavenTuesday, April 21st, 2015 at 10:09 pm
    Too bad that nearly all stories just focused on that unfortunate incident and not on the issues.
  5. n8iTuesday, April 21st, 2015 at 10:11 pm
    I found the comment "we are going to vote you out" laughable... what are you hardcore Republicans going to do vote for a Democrat out of spite? The fact of the matter is, SOS and other groups like them are ignored because regardless of the amount of noise they make in the end they are still going to vote for the Republican that they are handed.
  6. VoterTuesday, April 21st, 2015 at 10:34 pm
    If you actually voted, you would know that there are such things as primaries. If you knew anything about this situation, you would know that only two Republicans ran in the general election. So, yeah, voting him out is a very real possibility and he KNOWS that.
  7. N8iTuesday, April 21st, 2015 at 10:42 pm
    Lol I am just tad bit familiar with how it works. Seriously If you nut jobs think you are going to unseat a sitting a Incumbent of the same party. You should probably check yourself into the looney bin because you are making Gary Busey look like a Rhodes scholar. The SOS klan is an angry patch work group of misfits. They have accomplished nothing and will continue the trend.
  8. CaMavenTuesday, April 21st, 2015 at 10:59 pm
    Ask Eric Cantor all about that, N81. Also, it wasn't an SOS event. read the event report above.
  9. n8iWednesday, April 22nd, 2015 at 10:11 am
    Yes Eric Cantor verses a guy that has been in office all of 4 months... give me a break. Your entire group has zero political savviness. SOS has had the same band of losers showing up to protest anyone that is not extreme as them. Why do you think they haven't gotten any traction? Expect more mockery in the future.
  10. CamavenWednesday, April 22nd, 2015 at 11:29 am
    1. I'm not in the group. 2. In any case, the group is not SOS. 3. They actually have gotten quite a bit of traction. 4. I agree that they are amateurs and have little political savviness.. That is the only correct thing you have said so far. 5. However they have managed to hit the national news several times. 6. Perhaps your "community organizer" could teach them.
  11. N8IWednesday, April 22nd, 2015 at 11:37 am
    Hitting "national news" is not an accomplishment. The guy that raped and killed his 3 month old daughter newhall made national news. They made news because they got violent with a congressman and he wasn't having it. I love how that tough guy melted in to crowd after Knight punked him. What does that even mean "community organizer" I see since I speak out against extremist... I must be a Democrat. Tell me another one.
  12. CAMavenWednesday, April 22nd, 2015 at 11:58 am
    Obviously the two are not comparable and it is sophistry to attempt to conflate them. Hitting national news helps get mindshare for political goals. This is one of the main reasons that Republicans now dominate most federal and state legislators, CA being one of the few exceptions. However, the party hierarchy is not well representing Conservative views, especially on illegal immigration. Many Democrats are also in agreement that the situation has gotten out of hand.
  13. N8IThursday, April 23rd, 2015 at 11:11 am
    If you want your issue taken serious you should probably stop letting the clowns turn it into a 3 ring circus.
  14. CaMavenThursday, April 23rd, 2015 at 11:14 am
    Or maybe stop allowing people to substitute a 3o second incident for the real issues.
  15. N8IThursday, April 23rd, 2015 at 11:16 am
    They wanted a confrontation and they got one... If they want to talk about the issue perhaps they should schedule a meeting and be adults.
  16. CamavenThursday, April 23rd, 2015 at 2:44 pm
    You obviously need to learn more about the nearly one year history of this. It didn't just start Friday. there have been dozens of attempts to sound out, measure and influence Knight's position. Start here: https://www.google.com/?gws_rd=ssl#q=steve+ http://citizensjournal.us/page/2/?x=0&y=0&
  17. N8iThursday, April 23rd, 2015 at 3:06 pm
    Sir, I have been here. I know the attacks on Knight are clearly racially motivated. Take yourself back to Alabama.
  18. CamavenThursday, April 23rd, 2015 at 3:28 pm
    Thanks for totally outing yourself with your race card. The protesters are objecting to clear violations of the LAW, fella, which you probably don't know or care much about,
  19. N8IThursday, April 23rd, 2015 at 4:03 pm
    You are a poor excuse for a true American and should be excaminicated for your weakness... I bet you drive a H3 and expect this pinked loser to get an restraining orders for getting owned. Take your weak ass back to to trailer park.
  20. CAMavenThursday, April 23rd, 2015 at 6:23 pm
    Looks like you're all out of bankrupt arguments and are now reduced to just sputtering nonsense. Get a job, loser.
  21. N8IThursday, April 23rd, 2015 at 6:36 pm
    I am a job creator son... I would hire you if your weren't worthless.
  22. CAMavenThursday, April 23rd, 2015 at 6:50 pm
    Why do you act like you mainly create jobs in law enforcement, the judiciary and social services to handle you?
  23. PatHTuesday, April 21st, 2015 at 11:15 am
    I'm glad that he stood up to the crowd and kept his cool - it is very disheartening to see people protesting issues when they haven't read the pertinent information and don't have their facts straight - the least they could do is listen to the facts - I do give credit to the two protesters that said "listen" to the ones trying to shout over him.
  24. Zombie PoetTuesday, April 21st, 2015 at 2:31 pm
    While it's amusing that a congressman wants to beat up his constituents. I would rather hear his views on the following: What are their views on Sharia Law? What do they think about the following statements: The West Will Tolerate Itself To Death. Why Do We Tolerate Violence Against Women?
  25. 24AheadDotComTuesday, April 21st, 2015 at 3:18 pm
    Mike Devlin appears to be lying: SOS is not AFAIK against all immigration as Devlin says in his intro. Note the cutesy camera angle used in the first photo to block out the "il" in "illegal". As can be seen in the second photo, their issue is illegal immigration, not all forms and levels of immigration as Mike Devlin would have you believe. That said, SOS - like every other group - does things the wrong way. Instead of ranting at politicians, they should use my carefully-crafted questions. If they did that, this story would reach far beyond SCVTalk.
  26. N8ITuesday, April 21st, 2015 at 4:31 pm
    Mike Devlin speaks the truth. SOS is an extremely racist organization. Your little group is a bunch of dangerous extremist who became physical with our congressman and were asked to leave by Simi PD. Below is the email sent out by Greg Aprahamian Dear Friends, Congressman Steve Knight recently stated in an interview: "The Republican party needs to get to the negotiating table with Democrats to work out a compromise on immigration reform". We all know what that means...Amnesty for illegal aliens! Friends, It is our job to keep wayward representatives from selling out the entire nation. Please join us at a NO AMNESTY RALLY, at the opening of Congressman Steve Knights newly opened district office in Simi Valley, CA. This is a public open house, and we need a delegation of patriots to be there, Friday, April 17th, 5-7 PM 1445 E. Los Angeles Ave, #206 Simi valley, CA 93065 Looking forward to seeing all those willing to take a stand. Sincerely, Greg Aprahamian
  27. 24AheadDotComThursday, April 23rd, 2015 at 5:16 pm
    Once again but without the hedging: Devlin is lying. He says SOS is against all immigration, when at the most they oppose the illegal variety and want to limit the legal kind. The supposed letter quoted by you doesn't contradict what I wrote. You also fail at reading comprehension: it should have been clear that I'm not an SOS member (I did join their forums after posting my comment, with the goal if getting them to do things in more effective ways). Whatever individual SOS members believe, there's nothing wrong with the policies the group as a whole espouses.
  28. N8iThursday, April 23rd, 2015 at 5:36 pm
    Devlin has been punking. You racist idiots since way back when... Go back to your trailerparks.
  29. Pluto AnimusTuesday, April 21st, 2015 at 3:34 pm
    Typically immature Christian Republican asswipe.
  30. Bill ReynoldsThursday, April 23rd, 2015 at 10:27 am
    Seems that some people are bound to protect their cash cows. Lol
  31. awesometowndwellerFriday, April 24th, 2015 at 12:33 pm
    Wow N81 - sounds like you need a drink. Dude late nite trolling doesn't suit you. You could wind up with a RO against you. Careful how you treat people smarter than you.
  32. Coastal SageFriday, April 24th, 2015 at 2:36 pm
    I do not know Steve Knight or the precise details of his voting record in Congress. If I did, I might not like his voting record. However, all Californians have the right to be free from offensive touching (assault), the right to be free from threat of offensive touching (battery), and have the right of self defense. If some person was touching Congressman Knight in a way which offended him, or even threatening to touch Congressman Knight, the Congressman has the right to defend himself, and the use of aggressive words rather than the fist in the face need to be commended. As a member of Congress, Congressman Knight also has the protection of Federal law making it a Federal crime to assault, batter or otherwise harm a Member of Congress. Remembering what happened to Rep. Gabby Giffords within this last several years, being shot in the head by a nutball constituent, the Capitol Hill Police, who provide protection to Members of Congress, are particularly persuasive in asking U.S. Attorneys to indict those who threaten, assault or batter Members of Congress, regardless of the seniority or party affiliation of the MOC. Unfortunately, leaders of the extreme right in California have a very long history of using physical intimidation against other white people who do not agree with their views. Way back in 1986 my spouse was in the Simi Valley City Hall, to pick up a pile of voter registration cards to be used by actual Simi Valley residents who were circulating a local ballot measure for signature and placement on the City of Simi Valley's ballot. A now well known rightie named Steve (not Knight) accosted my spouse in the lobby of the Simi Valley City Hall and demanded to know why my spouse had a handful of voter registration cards. When my spouse explained, the now well known rightie, fearing that a few people who didn't share his views might be registered to vote, shoved my spouse and tried to grab the blank voter registration cards away. Thankfully, a Simi Valley PD officer happened to be in the lobby, and fended off the rightie nutball, telling him he would be arrested if he ever interfered with someone with business in City Hall again. My spouse, the clueless innocent, had no idea who the registration card grabber was, but the cop told him the man's name and that "He's constantly a problem." In my last conversation with the late Dr. Keith Richman, former Santa Clarita Republican Assemblyman, Dr. Keith regaled me with stories of how the same right wing nutball made his life miserable of a course of many years. Despite his light hearted mood, Dr. Keith seemed saddened by the way the right wing nutballs acted against other Republicans. Here we are 29 years after the blank voter registration card grabbing incident in Simi Valley City Hall, and the registration card grabber and harasser of Dr. Richman is now a big wig in the right wing of the California Republican coterie. I'm sure the guy who offensively got into Steve Knight's face (committing an assault) is not the nutball from Simi Valley, but the memory of the tactics of California's extreme right unpleasantly lingers and the tactic is apparently being taught to new generations of right wing political activist. Rep. Knight defended himself in the same way most tough guys would do, and his street cred in the halls of the House side of the Capitol has been inadvertently enhanced for the benefit of his constituents. It's an environment where Republican Congressman who "don't take sh*t" are admired by their peers, the press be darned as long as the Congressman has no skeletons in his closet like Congressman Grimm. It was those skeletons, and not Rep. Grimm's physical aggressiveness which brought him down, despite what the Democrat bloggers are saying today. It's my best advice to Rep. Knight that he avail himself of the services of the Capitol Hill Police and the U.S. Attorney to get people like the aggressive man in the cel phone video, and those like him, under control. I'm told that most of these right wing wacko types turn into little *****cats when the Feds come knocking at the front door of their doublewides.
  33. Bill ReynoldsFriday, April 24th, 2015 at 8:49 pm
    Just wondering if anyone out there can finally explain why our conservative Republican Congressman is at such angry odds with a group that is profoundly anti illegal immigration? Is there a misunderstanding over Knight's voting in the House of Reps? Shouldn't these folks and Congressman Steve Knight be on the same page and aren't there plenty of liberal Democrats who are soft on illegal immigration that these people could confront? Someone said that this group is loony, but that is not an adequate explanation. If that's it, why interact with them at all, given that this happened in March at Congressman Knight's AV office opening bash (no pun intended).
  34. CAMavenFriday, April 24th, 2015 at 9:01 pm
    This article, unlike the ones which focus on an unfortunate brief video clip, addresses ALL of that. http://citizensjournal.us/25th-district-ca I have read all I could find and this is the only balanced, objective, comprehensive story.
  35. Bill ReynoldsSaturday, April 25th, 2015 at 7:29 am
    CAMaven, it appears that this excerpt explains exactly why those anti illegal immigrant activists hassled Congressman Knight: "Steve Knight chose – as 1 of the 75 Republicans who voted yes – to cast a vote alongside Rep Luis Gutierrez and Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi to fund DHS without the defunding amendment and, therefore, the House of Representatives, ultimately, did NOT exercise the power of the purse to legislatively stop Obama’s immigration plan."
  36. El NiñoSaturday, April 25th, 2015 at 6:36 pm
    For every old white man that dies two minority children are born. Opposing immigration reform or amnesty is akin to man trying to stop the tide.
  37. Bill ReynoldsSaturday, April 25th, 2015 at 6:54 pm
    We have the Mormons. Lol

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