CNA Staff, Jul 14, 2020 / 16:36 pm
A man in St. Louis has been charged with four counts of fourth-degree assault after police say he threw punches at people praying and defending a statue of St. Louis during a recent protest.
Terrence Page, 34, admitted to News 4 that he threw the punches, saying, "Real change doesn't happen unless you take those risks."
He said he thought there were KKK members defending the statue, and argued that "their presence alone is terrorism, because they instill fear."
The incident took place June 27 near the Apotheosis of St. Louis statue, which sits in the city's Forest Park in front of the Saint Louis Art Museum. It was erected in 1906 and depicts Louis IX of France, for whom the city is named.
In recent weeks, some protestors have called for the removal of the statue, as well as the renaming of the city. On June 27, some 200 people surrounded the statue in protest. One organizer said the statue "represents hate" and "is not a symbol of our city in 2020."