Bakersfield:-A Bakersfield City Council meeting on Wednesday night took a violent turn when a pro-Palestine protestor, Riddhi Patel (28), made threats against council members and the mayor. Patel, who is Indian-American, now faces 16 felony charges, including eight counts of terroristic threats and eight counts of threatening city officials.From peaceful protest to volatile threatsThe incident occurred during the public comment section of the meeting. Patel initially voiced her opposition to proposed security measures, particularly the installation of metal detectors, which she viewed as an act of public criminalization. However, her speech took a drastic turn when she directly threatened the council, stating, You guys want to criminalize us with metal detectors Well see you at your house. Well murder you.Pro-Palestine protester Riddhi Patel charged for threatening to murder Bakersfield lawmakersRiddhi Patel, 28, was charged with 10 counts of threatening with the intent to terrorize and eight counts of threatening certain public officials. pic.twitter.com/bCpfKv1t5B— Sumit (@SumitHansd) April 13, 2024Patels inflammatory rhetoric goes viralPatels incendiary remarks, which also included a reference to Navratri, a festival of oppressors and the invocation of Mahatma Gandhi and Jesus Christ moments before the threats, were captured on video and quickly gained traction on social media platforms like X (formerly Twitter) and TikTok. The video, shared by prominent figures like Collin Rugg and the Hindu American Foundation, garnered over 3 million views.Patel stated, “You guys want to criminalize us with metal detectors. Well see you at your house. Well murder you. I hope one day somebody brings the guillotine and kills all of you motherf******.”Pro-Palestine protester Riddhi Patel charged for threatening to murder Bakersfield lawmakersRiddhi Patel, 28, was charged with 10 counts of threatening with the intent to terrorize and eight counts of threatening certain public officials. pic.twitter.com/bCpfKv1t5B— Sumit (@SumitHansd) April 13, 2024Hindu American foundation denounces Patels actionsThe Hindu American Foundation (HAF) expressed outrage at Patels behavior. We are deeply disturbed that this individual would invoke Gandhi and a sacred Hindu festival while threatening violence against Bakersfield leaders, stated the HAF in a social media post. They further condemned her actions by drawing parallels to antisemitism, highlighting the hypocrisy of her rhetoric.InRiddhi Patels post on PM Modi via Facebook/RiddhiPatelCity council remains undeterredDespite the unsettling incident, the Bakersfield City Council, led by Councilman and Vice Mayor Andrae Gonzales, refused to be intimidated. Gonzales condemned Patels threats, labeling them unacceptable, unproductive, and deeply concerning. He emphasized the importance of civil discourse, stating, We encourage open dialogue and respectful exchange of ideas. Threatening elected officials is not the way to influence policy.Pro-Palestinian group Distances itself from threatsThe United Liberation Front, a pro-Palestinian organization, distanced itself from Patels actions. They issued a statement denouncing violence and threats against public officials, clarifying that her behavior does not reflect their values or represent their stance.In a show of resolve, the Bakersfield City Council unanimously voted to approve the proposed security enhancements, including metal detectors, following the incident.
