That is radicalization at its most interesting.
Simply months earlier than he was arrested for violently shoving a Turning Level USA reporter at an anti-ICE protest, Minnesota dad Chris Ostroushko spent his days like every stereotypical white, middle-aged American man: working in building and watching soccer from his sofa.
Ostroushko had by no means thought to take part in any protests in his 50-something years – till out-of-control protesters and ICE brokers clashed throughout a lethal demonstration in North Minneapolis on Jan. 14.
There, he gave an enraged man-on-the-street interview that catapulted him into turning into the face of a brand new wave of radical protestors – and finally led to his arrest for attacking a conservative journalist.
“That is nuts … what the f–okay is occurring? Dude, that is insane,” Ostroushko ranted on the January protest, in line with video of his interview with Standing Coup.
We’re all human beings right here. I don’t give a s–t who you might be, the place you got here from, what shade you might be – it doesn’t f–king matter. That is unsuitable,” he bellowed, the footage reveals.
When requested if he’d ever been to an indication earlier than, Ostroushko replied, “By no means, by no means. I’ve by no means protested in my life.
“I sit in my comfortable home and have a look at s–t and get mad … they’re simply attempting to f–king scare individuals … they let you know it’s immigrants, solely immigrants, it’s f–king anyone!” he wailed.
The clip drew tons of of 1000’s of views and feedback from supporters, and turned Ostroushko into the poster little one for unlikely activists.
“You’d by no means assume my dad – a random suburban man in building – would go viral,” Ostroushko’s 20-year-old daughter, Paige, instructed the Star Tribune within the wake of her father’s newfound stardom.
“He’s simply, like, a middle-aged man that simply sits at house and watches soccer. However now that he’s on the market, everybody else within the suburbs is like, ‘Wow, this individual is on the market. I have to get on the market,’” she stated.
“I can sit round like everyone else in my cul de sac and watch TV and never go wherever,” Ostroushko added in an interview with the outlet, and defined that he was first drawn to the anti-ICE motion by his spouse, who inspired him to attend a memorial for slain activist Renee Good along with her.
“However the extra I noticed this, the extra I spotted that that is actually a vital situation, and extra individuals must be out, as a result of what they’re doing just isn’t proper,” he stated.
Supporters on social media, the place the baldie proudly goes by “Minnesota offended man,” known as him “America’s dad” – and even demanded he run for president.
“They wish to purchase me a beer, purchase me a gun. They name me the voice of this era,” Ostroushko instructed the Star Tribune in February.
Just some months into his fame, nevertheless, Ostroushko’s true, radical colours had been revealed when he unleashed a violent, caught-on-camera assault on Turning Level USA reporter Savanah Hernandez.
Horrifying video from the April 11 anti-ICE rally outdoors the Whipple constructing reveals the hulking Ostroushko abruptly shoving Hernandez with each palms to the bottom, whereas yelling, “Don’t f–king contact my daughter!”
The enraged dad’s assault got here after a feminine protester was seen punching Hernandez within the face, knocking her clear off her ft and right into a fence behind her, and earlier than one other lady tackled her to the pavement as soon as once more, in line with the footage.
Ostroushko, alongside together with his daughter Paige, had been arrested in reference to the assault, which left Hernandez with a concussion, sprained knee, neck ache and emotional injury, the journo later instructed The Put up.
Felony circumstances towards the father-daughter duo “are at the moment underneath assessment for potential charging,” the Hennepin County District Lawyer’s Workplace stated Wednesday.
For the reason that incident, Ostroushko whined that his household has been the topic of “nonstop” backlash – a far cry from the gushing reward he was receiving for his protest efforts simply months earlier.
“It’s somewhat overwhelming and makes me second-guess even dwelling on this nation, to be sincere with you, with all that’s happening,” he instructed One America Information Community this week.
Ostroushko couldn’t be reached for remark.
