Senator Tom Cotton has sparked controversy with his recent statements about handling protesters, such as those blocking the Golden Gate Bridge. He suggested that if similar protests occurred in Arkansas, the protesters would be physically removed by civilians and described them as potentially becoming 'very wet criminals,' with their 'skin ripped off.' Cotton emphasized that Americans inconvenienced by such demonstrations should 'take matters into their own hands.' This rhetoric, which was later edited in a tweet, has been interpreted by some as an endorsement of violence against protesters, leading to widespread criticism.
Tom Cotton Encourages Americans To ‘Take Matters Into Your Own Hands’ And Remove Protesters From Roads https://t.co/eCq9z01MLJ
'GET THEM OUT OF THE WAY!': Tom Cotton Encourages Americans to Stand Up to Protesters COTTON: “I encourage people who get stuck behind the pro-Hamas mobs blocking traffic: take matters into your own hands to get them out of the way." https://t.co/NNkKwlkYY7
A lot of people want to pretend that Tom Cotton telling people to "take matters in their own hands" when anti-genocide protests block a road isn't advocating for assault. But he also went on Fox to say they should be thrown off bridges and have their skin ripped off. https://t.co/ymKjKsK6JD
A day after encouraging members of the public to “take matters into their own hands” to deal with peaceful protesters, Sen. Tom Cotton is doubling down on his endorsement of mob violence. https://t.co/sIkwcEvwx1
Sen. Tom Cotton (R-Ark.) raised a controversy after he encouraged those dealing with streets blocked by protesters to “take matters into your hands,” appearing to encourage violence. https://t.co/a3yGn6Mrru https://t.co/RAt3hsah57
JUST IN: Senator Tom Cotton (@TomCottonAR), a lifelong member of the First United Methodist Church of Dardanelle, AR, writes, "I encourage people who get stuck behind the pro-Hamas mobs blocking traffic: take matters into your own hands to get them out of the way. It's time to… https://t.co/vuzeUL2TqX
U.S. Senator Tom Cotton encourages people to start assaulting protesters. https://t.co/ykXMDoiIHg
U.S. Senator Tom Cotton encourages people to start assisting protesters. https://t.co/oAEFwl9mPD
A United States senator, Tom Cotton (R-Ark.), just tweeted that people inconvenienced by demonstrators should “take matters into your own hands.” A few minutes later the tweet was edited. https://t.co/CzR8E6rcz1
'Skin Ripped Off': Tom Cotton Says There'd Be 'Wet Criminals' Thrown Off Bridge If Protesters Blocked Traffic In His State https://t.co/ydLAZI6Stj
Aaron Rupar: Sen. Tom Cotton Wants Protesters Blocking Golden Gate Bridge to Be Tossed Over https://t.co/I0nylbhy8Z
Tom Cotton Urges Americans to 'Take Matters Into Their Own Hands' to Stop Pro-Palestinian Protestors: 'In Arkansas... We'd Have Tossed Them Overboard' https://t.co/XtVDWIo55o
.@TomCottonAR reacts to protestors blocking bridges: 'If something like this happened in Arkansas... there’d be a lot of very wet criminals that have been tossed overboard, not by law enforcement but by the people whose road they're blocking.' https://t.co/4P9u9cq8VO
Senator Tom Cotton on protesters blocking bridges: “If something like this happened in Arkansas, there’d be a lot of very wet criminals that have been tossed overboard by the people whose road they are blocking.” https://t.co/5hj3MU6UsL
Tom Cotton says it's time for Americans to "take matters into their own hands" and physically remove Hamassholes: "If something like this happened in Arkansas, let's just say there would be a lot of wet criminals, who had been tossed overboard and not by law enforcement." https://t.co/tk7Linttul
BREAKING: Arkansas Sen. Tom Cotton warns protesters like the pro-Palestinian ones that blocked the Golden Gate Bridge that if something like that happened on a bridge in Arkansas, “there would be a lot of very wet criminals that would be tossed overboard.” “If something like… https://t.co/VsZMidIHD6
Sen. Tom Cotton endorses throwing protesters off bridges https://t.co/PFSDPW8C8m