Patricia and Mark McCloskey, the St. Louis couple who became famous in June for pointing guns at Black Lives Matter protesters in front of their mansion home, are scheduled to speak at the Republican National Convention next week.
Mark McCloskey told reporters that he was threatened and fearful during the incident in question. “I didn’t care what color they were. I didn’t care what their motivation was. I was frightened. I was assaulted,” he said.
It is unclear if there was any threat to the McCloskeys. One of the protest leaders has claimed otherwise, and though the McCloskeys say that the protestors broke down a gate, the gate had not been damaged according to video footage. The protesters had been on their way to the home of Lyda Krewson, mayor of St. Louis.
Since then, the McCloskeys have become the face of those who oppose the BLM movement, whether or not they approved of it. President Donald Trump retweeted a video of them confronting the protestors on June 29. In the video, the couple is shown shouting at the protestors and wielding a long-barreled gun and a handgun, pointing at the protestors.
Second Amendment activists, most of whom lean right, have praised them as heroes, and according to CBS, the couple has spoken at a Trump campaign event in July.
The McCloskeys face criminal charges for the unlawful use of weapons, a Class E felony, but Missouri Gov. Mike Parson (R) has stated that he may pardon them if they are convicted.
Officials have not yet released what date the McCloskeys will speak, but they will be joining the RNC through video. They are expected to endorse Trump in his re-election bid.
The 2020 RNC will take place from Aug. 24–27.
