*Rep. Maxine Waters issued a statement Saturday saying that the protesters who appeared outside her Los Angeles office Thursday did so despite her calls to “steer clear” of a planned protest by a far-right group, the Oath Keepers.
“Many people from within the community heeded my advice and steered clear of the event, but there were groups of individuals who felt compelled to participate and show their support for me despite my request,” her statement read.
As previously reported, the Oath Keepers bailed on their planned alt-right protest. The militia group was outraged over Waters remarks that her supporters should “push back” on Trump administration officials when encountering them in public.
See her full statement via the Twitter embed below.
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Please read my statement regarding the protests at my district office last Thursday. pic.twitter.com/F3dDiPDEdv
— Maxine Waters (@RepMaxineWaters) July 21, 2018
Waters said a group of nonpeaceful demonstrators participated in the counterprotests “not so much in support of me, but to seek press attention in furtherance of their own agendas.”
During Thursday’s protest, an American flag was ripped off the back of a truck then stepped on and set ablaze. A few people cheered and someone yelled, “This is not the American flag, this is their flag.”
“While I do not agree with torching the flag as a form of protest, I understand the Constitution guarantees everyone the right to this form of free expression,” Waters said.
The Democratic lawmaker said she does not support any forms of violence but stands by her “respect for the Constitution.”
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