Couple Who Brandished Guns at Black Lives Matter Protesters Pardoned, Expunged and Still Fighting
Louis Mayor Lyda Krewson, the target of the protesters' march, faced intense backlash for reading out the names and addresses of residents who had called for police reform during a Facebook Live event. The McCloskeys' actions, meanwhile, sparked a heated debate over the limits of self-defense and the role of firearms in protecting private property. As the couple's case made its way through the courts, they became unlikely figures in the national conversation about gun rights and the Second Amendment. Mark McCloskey's decision to arm himself and confront the protesters was seen by many as a symbol of resistance against perceived threats to personal safety and property. However, others viewed his actions as reckless and provocative, arguing that they escalated the situation and put both the protesters and himself at risk. The incident also raised questions about the responsibility of homeowners to defend their property and the boundaries between public and private spaces. In the years since, the McCloskeys have continued to advocate for gun rights and self-defense, while also facing criticism and scrutiny from those who disagree with their actions. The return of Mark McCloskey's AR-15 has been seen by some as a victory for gun rights advocates, but others have expressed concern about the potential consequences of promoting a culture of armed self-defense. As the debate over self-defense and gun rights continues to evolve, the McCloskeys' case remains a flashpoint in the national conversation about the role of firearms in American society.
The charges brought by Louis Circuit Attorney Kim Gardner sparked a high-profile legal battle, with then-Missouri Attorney General Eric Schmitt criticizing the prosecution and seeking to intervene. Schmitt argued that the case raised important questions about the rights of Missourians to defend themselves and their property.
Mark McCloskey, now a Republican candidate for U.S. Senate in Missouri, and his wife Patricia, pleaded guilty to misdemeanors related to the 2020 encounter with protesters. As part of their plea agreement, they were sentenced to one-year probation periods, with the condition that their law licenses would be suspended if they violated their probation. However, Missouri Gov. Mike Parson later pardoned the couple.
Six years on, Schmitt, now a Missouri senator, reflects on the case as part of a broader trend among progressive prosecutors. "As rioters razed St. Louis, activist prosecutors like Kim Gardner chose to go after law-abiding citizens like the McCloskeys – not the looters and criminals destroying our cities," Schmitt said. He believes that the case exemplifies how progressive prosecutors targeted conservatives, rather than upholding the law.
Schmitt's office intervened in the case, viewing it as an example of the justice system being used against law-abiding Missourians. As a senator, he aims to address the damage caused by what he sees as a crusade against the justice system, focusing on punishing violent criminals rather than innocent Americans.
The McCloskeys' convictions were later expunged by a Missouri appeals court, effectively treating the convictions as if they never occurred. Their attorney, Al Watkins, notes that a common misconception about the case is what triggered the confrontation. According to Watkins, the precipitating event was not the protest itself, but rather the decision by local authorities to instruct law enforcement to adopt a "hands-off" approach to the protesters.
Watkins believes that the case offers valuable lessons for lawyers and prosecutors facing intense public and political pressure. He advises them not to be swayed by political pressure, citing the McCloskeys' case as an example of how they were unfairly labeled as racially motivated and privileged. The couple had, in fact, chosen to purchase and restore a home in a diverse St. Louis neighborhood decades earlier, raising their family there.
As for the national reaction that followed, Watkins said he was not surprised by the intensity of the public response. "The national reaction was an unsurprising and natural progression of the then-burgeoning divisiveness in our nation," he said. The events of June 2020 also reshaped the course of Mark McCloskey's public life. In the years that followed, the St. Louis attorney became an increasingly visible figure in conservative politics, speaking at the 2020 Republican National Convention and launching a bid for the U.S. Senate in Missouri in 2022.
More recently, he has represented some defendants charged in connection with the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol riot and advocated for compensation for those prosecuted after the attack. Earlier this year, McCloskey briefly stepped away from representing hundreds of Jan. 6 defendants before returning after the Justice Department announced plans for what it called an "Anti-Weaponization Fund," which supporters say could compensate individuals they believe were unfairly prosecuted.
According to reports, McCloskey said he had initially stepped back because of a serious medical diagnosis, describing his condition as an "incurable, always-fatal disease," though he declined to identify it publicly. Despite his later involvement in politics, McCloskey remains most closely associated with the confrontation that unfolded outside his home in June 2020. What began as a tense encounter on a private St. Louis street evolved into a legal battle, a political flashpoint, and a national conversation that continues nearly six years later.
The experience has given McCloskey and his wife a platform they never expected. "It has given us a voice that we would not otherwise have," he said. "I still speak around the country on constitutional rights in the First Amendment and the Second Amendment." McCloskey's attorney, Al Watkins, hopes the couple can finally move beyond the controversy. "I am hopeful they can live out their lives without again being demonized, victimized or prosecuted for protecting their American dream," he said.
Although the couple continues to receive occasional death threats and hate mail, McCloskey said they remain committed to speaking publicly about the constitutional issues they believe the case represents. "Some lingering negatives," he said. "But overall, once again, it has given us an opportunity to spread the word." The McCloskeys' determination to speak out has ensured that the incident remains a topic of national discussion, with its implications for self-defense, property rights, and the role of prosecutors continuing to be debated.
The charges brought by Louis Circuit Attorney Kim Gardner sparked a high-profile legal battle, with then-Missouri Attorney General Eric Schmitt criticizing the prosecution and seeking to intervene. Schmitt argued that the case raised important questions about the rights of Missourians to defend themselves and their property.
Mark McCloskey, now a Republican candidate for U.S. Senate in Missouri, and his wife Patricia, pleaded guilty to misdemeanors related to the 2020 encounter with protesters. As part of their plea agreement, they were sentenced to one-year probation periods, with the condition that their law licenses would be suspended if they violated their probation. However, Missouri Gov. Mike Parson later pardoned the couple.
Six years on, Schmitt, now a Missouri senator, reflects on the case as part of a broader trend among progressive prosecutors. "As rioters razed St. Louis, activist prosecutors like Kim Gardner chose to go after law-abiding citizens like the McCloskeys – not the looters and criminals destroying our cities," Schmitt said. He believes that the case exemplifies how progressive prosecutors targeted conservatives, rather than upholding the law.
Schmitt's office intervened in the case, viewing it as an example of the justice system being used against law-abiding Missourians. As a senator, he aims to address the damage caused by what he sees as a crusade against the justice system, focusing on punishing violent criminals rather than innocent Americans.
The McCloskeys' convictions were later expunged by a Missouri appeals court, effectively treating the convictions as if they never occurred. Their attorney, Al Watkins, notes that a common misconception about the case is what triggered the confrontation. According to Watkins, the precipitating event was not the protest itself, but rather the decision by local authorities to instruct law enforcement to adopt a "hands-off" approach to the protesters.
Watkins believes that the case offers valuable lessons for lawyers and prosecutors facing intense public and political pressure. He advises them not to be swayed by political pressure, citing the McCloskeys' case as an example of how they were unfairly labeled as racially motivated and privileged. The couple had, in fact, chosen to purchase and restore a home in a diverse St. Louis neighborhood decades earlier, raising their family there.
As for the national reaction that followed, Watkins said he was not surprised by the intensity of the public response. "The national reaction was an unsurprising and natural progression of the then-burgeoning divisiveness in our nation," he said. The events of June 2020 also reshaped the course of Mark McCloskey's public life. In the years that followed, the St. Louis attorney became an increasingly visible figure in conservative politics, speaking at the 2020 Republican National Convention and launching a bid for the U.S. Senate in Missouri in 2022.
More recently, he has represented some defendants charged in connection with the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol riot and advocated for compensation for those prosecuted after the attack. Earlier this year, McCloskey briefly stepped away from representing hundreds of Jan. 6 defendants before returning after the Justice Department announced plans for what it called an "Anti-Weaponization Fund," which supporters say could compensate individuals they believe were unfairly prosecuted.
According to reports, McCloskey said he had initially stepped back because of a serious medical diagnosis, describing his condition as an "incurable, always-fatal disease," though he declined to identify it publicly. Despite his later involvement in politics, McCloskey remains most closely associated with the confrontation that unfolded outside his home in June 2020. What began as a tense encounter on a private St. Louis street evolved into a legal battle, a political flashpoint, and a national conversation that continues nearly six years later.
The experience has given McCloskey and his wife a platform they never expected. "It has given us a voice that we would not otherwise have," he said. "I still speak around the country on constitutional rights in the First Amendment and the Second Amendment." McCloskey's attorney, Al Watkins, hopes the couple can finally move beyond the controversy. "I am hopeful they can live out their lives without again being demonized, victimized or prosecuted for protecting their American dream," he said.
Although the couple continues to receive occasional death threats and hate mail, McCloskey said they remain committed to speaking publicly about the constitutional issues they believe the case represents. "Some lingering negatives," he said. "But overall, once again, it has given us an opportunity to spread the word." The McCloskeys' determination to speak out has ensured that the incident remains a topic of national discussion, with its implications for self-defense, property rights, and the role of prosecutors continuing to be debated.
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