On Wednesday, April 10, an individual identified as Indian-origin Riddhi Patel was arrested in Bakersfield, California, USA, for allegedly issuing death threats to city council members.
In the widely circulated video on social media, Patel can be seen issuing threats against Bakersfield council members, including Republic Mayor Karen Goh. These threats were reportedly motivated by the council’s failure to pass an anti-Israeli resolution and its decision to enhance building security amidst pro-Hamas demonstrations in the city.
“You guys are all horrible human beings and Jesus probably would have killed you himself…You guys don’t care about anything happening in Palestine or any other country where oppression occurs,” she was heard saying during the course of her first speech.
“I hope one day somebody brings the guillotine and kills all of you motherfuckers the increased criminalisation for no need other than you don’t like when People come and hold you guys accountable for introducing ceasefire resolutions,” Riddhi Patel continued her threats.
Indian-American protestor threatened to ‘murder’ Bakersfield City council
Riddhi Patel, 28, a pro-Palestine protestor, is accused of 16 felony counts and booked into jail on suspicion of eight counts of intending to terrorize with the threats pic.twitter.com/AXsIYyzEm0
— Organiser Weekly (@eOrganiser) April 13, 2024
“You guys want to criminalise us with metal detectors. We’ll see you at your house. We will murder you,” she was heard saying during her second address before the city council members.
She also lashed out at the enhanced security measures at government buildings across the US following police crackdown on anti-Israel protests.
“…You guys, those who votes to win in Bakersfield, parade Gandhi around and a Hindu holiday called Chaitra Navaratri that starts off this week. I remind you that these holidays that we practice, that other people in the global south practice, believe in violent revolution against their oppressors,” she said.
“Patel added, “And I hope one day, somebody brings the guillotine and kills all of you m***********.”
Continuing her rant, Patel said those who were elected to office “would backstab you” and “leave you to die”. She claimed that anti-Israel protesters were being “criminalised with metal detectors”, and said, “We’ll see you at your house, we’ll murder you,” directing her threats at Bakersfield Mayor Karen Goh and the city council members.
“In the last five years I’ve attended city council meetings there’s never been metal detectors, there’s never been more cops. The only reason you’re doing it is because people actually don’t care if you guys don’t like them and they’re actually resisting so you want to criminalise them,” she further said.
After Patel concluded her remarks and stepped away from the podium, Republican Mayor Karen Goh signalled to the police officers in attendance and publicly addressed the pro-Hamas ‘activist Riddhi Patel, calling attention to her threatening statements.
She pointed out, “Ma’am that was a threat. What you said at the end and so the officers are going to escort you out and take care of that.”
According to reports, the 28-year-old suspect was apprehended on the night of Wednesday, April 10, on eight felony charges for threatening with intent to terrorise, along with eight counts for threatening the Mayor and Bakersfield city council members.
Bakersfield Police Sgt. Eric Celedon confirmed the arrest, stating that Riddhi Patel is currently detained at Lerdo jail, with a bail bond set at 2 million dollars.
Meanwhile, the anti-Israeli organisation ‘United Front Liberation’, of which Patel is a member, has sought to distance itself from the unfolding controversy.
“United Liberation Front unequivocally condemns any statements that threaten public officials. The comments in question made tonight by a speaker run counter to our values and do not represent the United Liberation Front,” it said in an Instagram post.
Hindu American Foundation, a Washington DC-based non-profit advocacy group, denounced the threatening remarks made by Patel.
“We are outraged that this person invokes Gandhi and Chaitra Navaratri while threatening to murder Bakersfield leaders. The escalation of antisemitic rhetoric from anti-Israel demonstrations into terroristic threats is a horrific reality that we condemn. It must stop now,” the Hindu American Foundation wrote on X.
We are outraged that this person invokes Gandhi & Chaitra Navaratri while threatening to murder @Bakersfield_Cal leaders.
The escalation of #antisemitic rhetoric from anti-Israel demonstrations into terroristic threats is a horrific reality that we condemn. It must stop now. pic.twitter.com/zCp1iwrXJu
— Hindu American Foundation (@HinduAmerican) April 13, 2024
As the video started doing rounds on the internet, one of her previous Facebook posts from 2021 also resurfaced online. Therein, her expletive-laden hate was directed towards the Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, as she wrote: “Man f**k Modi. F**k the BJP. F**k Nikki Haley. F**k Dinesh. F**k Bobby Jindal. F**k Hindu Fascism.
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