Breonna Taylor protesters threaten Florida diners, call White woman 'wild Karen in her natural f***ing habitat'
ST. PETERSBURG, FLORIDA: Soon after the decision of the grand jury was announced into the death of Breonna Taylor, protests erupted across the country, including St. Petersburg in Florida, where an intense clash happened between protesters and two diners on Wednesday night, September 23. The video taken by a Tampa Bay reporter, Josh Fiallo, was uploaded on Twitter that showed a protester holding a skateboard and moving towards a couple sitting in the outside area of a restaurant while others chanted, “Stand up right now."
As the man sat on a chair, the female diner said, “No! This is my table,” and attempted to remove the protester from the chair. But three more protestors emerged from the crowd and joined him. The man who was with the woman then hugged her as she said she was calling the police. “I ought to knock your old ass boyfriend the f**k out,” the protester warned the woman, whom he called “wild Karen in her natural f–ing habitat,” as reported by the New York Post.
Protestors are now going restaurant by restaurant to chant at diners on Beach Dr. in St. Pete. A lot of diners yelled back, starting multiple confrontations.
— Josh Fiallo (@ByJoshFiallo) September 24, 2020
This one was the most significant. Protestors took over a couple’s table. Not sure why they were targeted specifically. pic.twitter.com/dzLM7KuCW9
The male diner was seen smiling in bewilderment as more protesters gathered around the table, while one continuously blew a horn. Fiallo, who shared the clip on Twitter, wrote: “Protestors are now going restaurant by restaurant to chant at diners on Beach Dr. in St. Pete. A lot of diners yelled back, starting multiple confrontations. This one was the most significant. Protestors took over a couple’s table. Not sure why they were targeted specifically.”
The video has gone viral on the social media platform with more than two million views and over nine thousand retweets. A number of people slammed the protesters for their conduct as one wrote: “BLM approval rate falling table by table. Trump voters born table by table. Keep it up!” Another one said: “These people are possessed! It’s a cult. I believe with every fiber of my being that BHO is directly involved in and coordinating this sh!tDouble exclamation mark It takes a lot but, I Face with symbols over mouth hate these people. God forgive me, please!”
BLM approval rate falling table by table.
— BubbyBelle #FillTheSeatNOW 🇺🇸 (@BubbyBelle) September 24, 2020
Trump voters born table by table.
Keep it up! 🎉
These people are possessed! It’s a cult. I believe with every fiber of my being that BHO is directly involved in and coordinating this sh!t‼️
— 💥DianaMite💥 (@DianaMiteLady) September 24, 2020
It takes a lot but, I 🤬 hate these people. God forgive me, please!
“This is just odd strategy. Makes no sense to target random diners and just sit down. I have ZERO issue with them protesting and I do not think today’s verdict was just.... but this specific video makes 0 sense to me,” added the third user.
This is just odd strategy. Makes no sense to target random diners and just sit down. I have ZERO issue with them protesting and I do not think today’s verdict was just.... but this specific video makes 0 sense to me
— D A V I S 💖 (@DavisPittman17) September 24, 2020
Fiallo has also shared another video on Twitter that showed a group of protesters including the man with the skateboard blocking a nearby street. The blocking apparently happened before the restaurant incident. “Today’s protest in St. Pete had been conflict free until this ....A car tried to get through a temporary road blockade. Protestors tried to stop it from getting through, hitting it with skateboards and standing in front of it. There’s about 60 marchers tonight,” wrote the journalist.
Today’s protest in St. Pete had been conflict free until this ....
— Josh Fiallo (@ByJoshFiallo) September 23, 2020
A car tried to get through a temporary road blockade. Protestors tried to stop it from getting through, hitting it with skateboards and standing in front of it.
There’s about 60 marchers tonight. pic.twitter.com/o9BY2LeNc3
The second video has been viewed more than 20,000 times and criticized heavily. “The rioters are mostly children, and they mostly bring toys,” one user wrote, while a second user added: “I hope all of them go to Jail. This is NOT peaceful protest. This is Domestic Terrorism by definition! I shouldn't be in fear as a server to do my job. I shouldn't be in fear as a restaurant owner to open my doors.”
The rioters are mostly children, and they mostly bring toys.
— Jazz el Taquito-Hunan ben Moyshe (@robertnlee) September 24, 2020
I hope all of them go to Jail. This is NOT peaceful protest. This is Domestic Terrorism by definition! I shouldn't be in fear as a server to do my job. I shouldn't be in fear as a restaurant owner to open my doors.
— Capt Tara (@TaraLRinkel) September 24, 2020
The grand jury’s decision to not prosecute two officers for their role in Taylor's death, while charging a third with endangering her neighbors has left many people furious around the US. Not just common people, athletes have also shown their disappointment. Los Angeles Lakers' star LeBron James tweeted, “The most DISRESPECTED person on earth is THE BLACK WOMAN! I promise you I’ll do my best to change this as much as I can and even more!! LOVE to you QUEENS all over this country and beyond!" WNBA star, Sue Bird, said, “Disappointed & disgusted. My heart goes out to Ms. Tamika Palmer & the rest of Breonna’s family #JusticeforBreonnaTalyor Please vote! Everyone!"