Videos posted to Instagram show right-wing activist Eoin Richard being pursued by counterprotesters into Precious Blood Catholic Church in Los Angeles on Sunday, lifted and removed from the sanctuary, then cornered at a nearby Starbucks where masked individuals poured blue paint on him and a companion. Los Angeles police then escorted the men from the store, according to the clips. Arrests are not visible in the videos.
Rally moved after “death threats,” Richard says
The source article reports Richard planned to launch a “Take Back L.A.: Free Speech Rally” at the Islamic Center of Southern California the same day, but instead went to Precious Blood Catholic Church after claiming he received death threats. In an Instagram story filmed outside the church, Richard said, “We aren’t going to be able to march to the Islamic Center due to threats on our lives. But we’re still having our rally here, rallying with Christians and Catholics here in L.A.”
Muslim organizations condemned planned rally
On Saturday, the Council on American-Islamic Relations Los Angeles (CAIR-LA), the Muslim Public Affairs Council (MPAC), and the Islamic Shura Council of Southern California condemned Richard’s planned rally in a joint press release, according to the source article.
Omar Ricci, a spokesperson for the Islamic Center of Southern California, said in the statement: “ICSC has served as a place of worship, community, and belonging in L.A. for generations. Attempts to bring hate, intimidation, or fear to the doorstep of any house of worship have no place in our city. We will not allow those who seek to divide our communities to define who we are or how we respond.”
In a community alert and threat assessment posted to Facebook, MPAC wrote that “there is no identified public evidence that [Eoin Richard Connolly] has explicitly called for violence against the Islamic Center, Muslims, or event participants,” while cautioning that his flyer combined “explicitly Christian mobilization with Crusader-associated symbolism” and cited his “documented relationships with activists involved in confrontational protests.”
Church: those who carried him out were “not affiliated”
The Archdiocese of Los Angeles told Blaze News the parish did not participate in the demonstration and did not give permission for filming. “The individuals shown in the filming removing another person from the church are not staff nor are they affiliated with the parish in any way,” a spokesperson said. The spokesperson also said a man in a clerical shirt seen in some videos “is not part of the parish nor Archdiocese and is believed to be [a] clergy member of another Christian denomination.” The Archdiocese thanked the LAPD “which responded promptly to the incident,” according to Blaze News.
What the videos show
Clips posted to Instagram depict Richard and at least one supporter entering Precious Blood Catholic Church as a group follows them. Footage then shows several people lifting Richard and carrying him outside. Later video shows Richard and his companion cornered inside a Starbucks as individuals shout at them, including “Nazi,” “piece of s**t,” and “terrorist,” before masked people pour blue paint on them. Officers with the Los Angeles Police Department then arrive and escort the men out. The source article reports no arrests appeared to be made at the scene.
Other notes and context
The source article says Richard, MPAC, the LAPD, CAIR-LA, and the Islamic Center of Southern California did not respond to requests for comment. Richard was previously a candidate for Los Angeles mayor, according to the Los Angeles Times.
