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Have Union Protesters Gone Too Far?

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    Americans for Prosperity Michigan Director Scott Hagerstrom and Michigan Freedom Fund President Greg McNeilly on the violence at recent union protests...

  • Duration 6:33
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Did you -- a fight that.

There I didn't see -- -- suddenly getting hit in the face five times after letting the guy go he sucker punch me again this is the First Amendment issue they think they're justified because they don't believe that you have a right to be there if you don't agree with these people.

No -- you know about -- there's some of life in Michigan union members' anger about their state becoming our right to work -- but those union guys on the attacked and now.

Well now they're under attack themselves.

Scott -- -- from Americans for prosperity filed a police report -- demanding an investigation.

Greg McNealy from the -- -- freedom fund is doing one batteries offered a thousand dollar reward for information.

Leading city resident adding the folks who turned to violence.

Gregg.

Any takers yet.

-- we've had a few calls in were following up -- to figure out the authenticity of of that information.

And we're in the process of collecting affidavits and in your your goal is what.

Justice.

-- and there's there's no excuse for this kind of violence non.

Is he is that a little disconcerting -- -- so many people say to us we took on the unions what did you expect.

We expected civil discourse.

There is no by the -- no tolerance for this type of violence in in the public square.

I mean this hearkens back I -- to their their history of connection organized crime and corruption and murder of of their opponents.

But we should not tolerate this.

This.

And tell -- what I think you're looking for justice some sort of -- got to that point I mean I do think that this is -- sets in and the role.

Would you -- that unions should be out front.

Condemning this behavior -- -- fact that.

They're not in fact in some media today there was report that.

Oh it was that -- guy who started.

It got silly.

That's what I worry about the date it's one things is sort of them ignore a problem.

But then not not to address.

But the the senior elements within your union that make you look.

But it wouldn't make it.

No I agree wholeheartedly.

What happen on Tuesday it was disgusting and you know one of the represents on the house the floor actually -- -- -- -- -- this goes from the leadership.

On the left all the way down to those people that -- out from the capitol grounds I had members.

Of our organization we have 87000 members in this again.

And they said they were afraid to come on to -- and I assured them.

That would be safe because if there's any place that we need to be able to have a public discourse and an exchange of ideas.

In the feel safe -- that -- state -- taking -- -- grounds.

And part of the reason we're -- for a full investigation.

Is because -- intimidation tactics to not work if they cannot happen.

And the heart of our democracy is to be able to engage in debate and that's why we need a full investigation these people need to be brought to justice.

And we need to didn't know what happened so we can prevent this in the future.

Early unions know who they are and -- and told about intimidation I was in Wisconsin by the recall election of Scott Walker.

You know no one hit -- I'm happy to say because when that have been a doozy of the suit.

But I will say this they called me a chain of words I'd never seen combine the way -- dead or.

Used as many gestures.

At me as they did so clearly not a fan of -- not -- -- enemy admitted it thought I was so -- -- But I about but the fact of the matter is and here's what worries me Greg.

Is it's accepted behavior.

And it shouldn't excesses.

-- absolutely -- in in in there's a there's a big problem.

That the unions shroud themselves in a culture of corruption intimidation violence and murder.

You know we have video of some of what they called their marshals.

People wearing yellow vests that we're there to organize them and sort of be their their puppet masters.

Those folks in yellow -- participated.

In tearing down of those tents with people inside them including those people at at public safety syringe.

Nobody else is -- part of their leadership but you don't by the government at some of those sent a letter that this.

This was an isolated -- and then in and did some got a little overheated and a little -- -- -- as and then.

One -- -- to and up.

So -- -- started last Thursday at their first protest in Scott was on the capitol steps.

Our organization to reserve the steps in the lawn in the -- it's -- brought in army -- -- people there to to voice their support for freedom to work.

On Thursday.

It's -- his cohorts were surrounded them and hassle for about three hours held captive on the steps I myself was thrown into a wall.

But some of the thugs and we had personal property damage -- debt.

Com it only after laid it on their part on Tuesday we gave up.

The capitol steps we reserve them but we couldn't hold that we didn't try to have a -- of touch point with them.

Because we knew -- -- -- cost so we are peaceful in those -- is Scott had people there that would just being peaceful there was there was no provocation here.

A bomb in so as is he indicated.

From the floor the Michigan house the Michigan Democrats.

Owned this because they called for for for blood.

In since the union organized debt I think there's Rico implications here I mean look we're talking about -- culture of organized crime.

What I might be.

The next step but since it's a bit -- -- -- but Scott is is your view.

Right now that this has hurt the union movement.

Off for a while that -- American seeing that -- will look at this and say well.

You want.

People have the right to be -- part of view the part of view that I see on TV.

Scares.

Yeah I think -- does hurt the union movement that's very unfortunate you know my family we're all union members in southeast Michigan.

And what's unfortunate solve these protesters when -- this legislation -- into effect.

They can still belong to a union they have that freedom to do that but the unions are going down this road where they're hurting -- -- -- they're hurting their chance to attract members.

When they when the members we'll have that opportunities whether to be in the union or not.

All right Scott and read a lot of thank you both great keep us posted if if you're at a federal we're gonna get the information -- and as I was often -- on this that show -- folks in heated debates or otherwise you can disagree.

That you don't have to be disagreeable or take it to the next level and punch the other guy out and -- them.

We have a democracy.

Okay.