A bodily confrontation at Washington, DC’s Union Station went viral after conservative activist Cam Higby pepper-sprayed a girl who was seen on video allegedly lunging at him and hitting him along with his MAGA hat — an incident he mentioned underscores his mission to confront political hostility head-on whereas selling open debate by his “Fearless Tour,” impressed by late Turning Level USA founder Charlie Kirk.
Higby, who mentioned his mission is to reveal violence on the left and promote peaceable political dialogue, visited Union Station after internet hosting a debate occasion Wednesday on the College of Maryland.
In a cellphone interview Thursday with Fox Information Digital, Higby defined the group was sitting and having conversations with close by protesters when a girl approached him and began being combative.
“In some unspecified time in the future, she dropped to her knees, deliberately … and he or she began yelling at us and began touching us,” Higby mentioned. “I advised her to again up and cease touching me, and he or she lunged at me and attacked me.”
Video footage captured the lady pushing Higby again in his chair, taking his hat, and hitting him with it earlier than falling right into a bush the place he pepper-sprayed her.
Higby mentioned it was unclear if the lady had any weapons, as she had her palms in her pockets throughout nearly all of the encounter.
After being pepper sprayed, Higby mentioned the lady walked over to a light-weight pole the place different protesters helped to scrub her eyes out and referred to as police.
Initially, it appeared no arrests would happen, however when US Park Police arrived, Higby mentioned the lady allegedly turned combative, resisted arrest, and assaulted officers.
“At this level now, she’s scuffling with federal police, after which they tried to arrest her,” he mentioned. “Her dad is yelling at us, ‘why did you spray my daughter,’ as she’s actively combating with federal police. In my head, I’m considering, this is the reason she received sprayed. It took 4 federal law enforcement officials to carry her down, and eventually they loaded her into the again of the police automobile.”
In police reviews, Higby mentioned he and his colleague had been listed as victims, and he or she is predicted to face federal costs.
US Park Police didn’t instantly verify the lady’s id or costs to Fox Information Digital.
Higby is not any stranger to violence, having been allegedly attacked in June at an anti-ICE rally in downtown Seattle.
Within the June 14 incident, he was filmed being attacked by three males who tried to tear off his gear, choke and beat him earlier than he pepper-sprayed one assailant in self-defense.
Higby mentioned he suffered a concussion, dizziness, nausea and different signs that required ER and pressing care remedy.
“I’ve come to the purpose the place I carry Mace on me always,” he mentioned. “I believe I present unbelievable restraint with the factors at which I exploit my Mace, as a result of I personally suppose after 4 verbal warnings to not contact me, it might have been completely legitimate to make use of it. … The roles are reversed, and I’m overly criticized as a result of it’s a girl, however I don’t know what she has on her, and I’m not going to throw a punch at her. I believe that utilizing Mace is manner higher [alternative].”
On school campuses, Higby and his group have turn out to be recognized for organising debate tables modeled after Kirk’s model, with indicators studying, “The left is violent! Let’s Debate!”
Whereas critics argue the messaging can spark heated reactions, Higby famous the latest Union Station incident unfolded with none signage current, the place the one factor figuring out his group had been their MAGA hats.
“We wish folks fired up. We wish folks to be excited to speak about political points, however what we don’t invite folks to do is contact us, and that’s the issue,” he mentioned. “I believe most of my takes are fairly cheap. That’s your downside, not my downside—if in case you have such low impulse management which you could’t cease your self from utilizing bodily violence.”
