Amid the historic uprisings against racist police brutality last summer, Mark and Patricia McCloskey went viral for brandishing guns at peaceful protesters marching past their mansion.
Though they pled guilty to misdemeanors, the couple has since used the incident to boost their standing in conservative circles, echoing former President Donald Trump's rhetoric that Black Lives Matter protesters are a violent threat.
Their willingness to shoot protesters was met with the embrace of the Republican party. The couple spoke at the 2020 Republican National Convention and Mark McCloskey has launched a campaign to represent Missouri in the United States Senate.
Such was the case in a bizarre new ad for Mark McCloskey's campaign, the couple replicates their stances with firearms. McCloskey claims in the video that he backed down the mob. In reality, they were already marching past the home to protest outside the nearby residence of an official.
Watch the awkward campaign ad below.
A year ago, the mob came to my door to attack my family\u2014 I backed them down\n\nThe mob came for me, the media attacked me & prosecutors tried to punish me for defending my family\n\nThey dropped all charges, except for a claim I instilled \u201cimminent fear\u201d in the mob\n\nI\u2019d do it again.pic.twitter.com/ECPsSwa2Iw— Mark McCloskey (@Mark McCloskey) 1623960317
McCloskey says in the video:
"Any time they come to threaten me, I'll do the same thing again and again and again to protect myself, my home, my family, and our rights as human beings. A vote for McCloskey is a vote for standing your ground. Vote for me and we'll never back down."
The video was widely mocked.
do you guys have to pose like that all the time now— casey (@casey) 1623960790
When I turned on the sound I genuinely expected to hear some baltic language and the echo of the cinderblock basement this was filmed in.— Santa Maria (@Santa Maria) 1623962206
Wow, you look so ridiculous I am on the floor laughing. Thank you— L\u00e9a - Sanity is a valuable possession nowadays \ud83d\udc9e (@L\u00e9a - Sanity is a valuable possession nowadays \ud83d\udc9e) 1623962137
Whatever, Blondie and Clod.— Steed, We're Needed! (@Steed, We're Needed!) 1623962079
the entire nation has laughed at you for every day of that year— Mike B (@Mike B) 1623962203
why is nathan lane so mad— Arsenio Room (@Arsenio Room) 1623962149
People reminded the couple of the epic fail from last year.
So, what is it like to be morbidly addicted to constant online ridicule?— Dr. Francis \ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\uddf2 (@Dr. Francis \ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\uddf2) 1623962187
pic.twitter.com/on9rhhsdis— \ud83e\udd37\ud83c\udffb\u200d\u2640\ufe0f (@\ud83e\udd37\ud83c\udffb\u200d\u2640\ufe0f) 1623962120
It was pretty clear from the video that neither of you know to operate a firearm.— John Mackenroe (@John Mackenroe) 1623961823
In addition to being fined for their misdemeanors, the couple also agreed to forfeit their guns.
