Louisiana Freedom Caucus takes the low road at high speed, gaslighting all the way

A clash of contrasting political viewpoints was to be expected when hundreds of “No Kings” protests were scheduled across the country Saturday to coincide with President Donald Trump’s birthday bash and the 250th anniversary celebration for the U.S. Army in our nation’s capital. 

That all the events unfolded with relatively few violent incidents is remarkable, especially in light of poor messaging choices from groups such as the Louisiana Freedom Caucus. 

Comprising the farthest right members of the state legislature, the LAFC thought it important heading into the weekend to issue a “Public Service Announcement.” It reminded people that a state law approved last year “provides civil immunity to any driver who reasonably believes they or their passengers are in immediate danger from individuals illegally blocking a public roadway, and who uses their vehicle solely to retreat or escape the threat.”

Less than seven months since a fatal terrorist vehicle attack claimed 14 lives on Bourbon Street, this propaganda from the Louisiana Freedom Caucus could not have been more poorly crafted or timed. 

The hyperbolic statement went on to explain a national organization had “several cities in Louisiana targeted for riots June 14th,” listing all 10 locales where “No Kings” events were planned. The caucus chose to disregard that each city listed has handled parades and events far larger in scope than what unfolded Saturday.

Leaders in the Louisiana Democratic Party slammed the LAFC announcement Friday, comparing its rhetoric to that which compelled white supremacist James Alex Fields Jr. to speed through a counterprotest in Charlottesville, Virginia, in 2017, killing demonstrator Heather Heyer.   

In its response midday Saturday, the Freedom Caucus doubled down on its vapid vitriol rather than “read the room.” Its new statement came hours after news had broken that Democratic Minnesota state Rep. Melissa Hortman and her husband had been murdered at their home overnight, and Democratic state Sen. John Hoffman and his wife had also been shot multiple times earlier in the evening. Their alleged attacker, Vance Luther Boelter, was apprehended late Sunday night.

Unswayed by those events, the LAFC chose to throw fuel on its self-ignited fire rather than soften its tenor or express remorse. The messaging was in stark contrast to that from Gov. Jeff Landry and Attorney General Liz Murrill, both Republicans who expressed condolences and condemned the attacks in Minnesota. 

“The Louisiana Freedom Caucus is unapologetic in its defense of every citizen’s right to protect themselves and their families from violent, lawless mobs,” its Saturday statement began. “The LAFC affirms that this message is both timely and necessary with events targeting 10 Louisiana cities today.”

Escaping the obvious grasp of the Freedom Caucus was that each of the “No Kings” events held in Louisiana were done so with the permission of local authorities. That critical fact apparently didn’t fit the LAFC narrative that relies on divisiveness to justify its existence.

Saturday’s caucus statement also attributed current concerns to the “nationwide riots against President Trump in 2020” when “violent agitators overran cities, looted businesses, and targeted police.” Attacks on law enforcement in St. Louis, Las Vegas and Portland, Oregon, were highlighted, as were the 60 Secret Service agents injured outside the White House in May 2020 protests. 

This seems to be what the Louisiana Freedom Caucus foresaw for Saturday, conveniently omitting any reference to the Trump-inspired insurrection attempt Jan. 6, 2021. Maybe the U.S. Capitol Police are just expendable in the LAFC’s eyes. 

LAFC Chairwoman Rep. Beryl Amedee, R-Schriever, also managed to pull off some inverted dogwhistle acrobatics in Part 2 of the public service announcement.

“Instead of condemning the violence by their fellow travelers blinded by hatred for President Donald Trump, Democrats responded with their usual charges of racism,” Amedee said in the statement. “Democrat leadership in this state seems more offended by the notion of citizens defending themselves than by the violence that puts our people in harm’s way.”

Let there be no confusion. The most offensive actions Saturday weren’t from “No Kings” participants or even Trump’s Pyongyang-pretend moment in Washington, D.C. 

No, the true indecencies unfolded in the suburbs of Minneapolis early that morning, and they were also in the words of the Louisiana Freedom Caucus that – perhaps with purpose – condoned such unhinged violence by not calling it out.