MTG commends police officers who tasered protesters at town hall meeting

Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA) dismissed criticisms surrounding her town hall in Acworth, Georgia that resulted in police tasing two men in attendance.

This is the latest instance of Republican town halls going sideways as protesters have increasingly infiltrated the meetings to shout down lawmakers. As a result, National Republican Congressional Committee Chairman Richard Hudson (R-NC) told members that they should cease holding in-person town halls to stop encouraging such actors.

One male protester, who police identified to the Washington Examiner as Johnny Keith Williams, was seen grabbing a police officer at Greene’s town hall Tuesday night. The officer pushed Williams toward the door as he continued to fight while more officers joined in. After Williams continued fighting the other officers, one officer was heard in videos posted to social media warning Williams to go outside or be tased. Williams kept pushing against the officers, and two of them employed tasers.

As the event continued, Ackworth Police Department tased and arrested a second man, Andrew Nelms. A third person, Kiyana Davis, was arrested without incident. Additionally, police escorted six other people out of the venue.

“For anyone questioning or criticizing the police at my townhall last night, the GREAT police officers conducted themselves in textbook fashion and protected every single person there by keeping the peace!!!!! These protestors were deranged and aggressive and lost control of themselves the second the townhall started,” Greene wrote on X Wednesday. “We have tons of video footage that absolutely proves the protestors were unruly and fighting and resisting police. I 100% support our heroic police officers for the incredibly difficult job the do every single day.”

The White House provided their implicit approval of the exchange, mocking Williams on X.

“They gave him a dose of that Edison Medicine,” White House Director of Communications Steven Cheung captioned a video of the exchange in a post.

“I continue to be amazed about how political commentators continue to show they have absolutely no idea what “free speech” entails or how the First Amendment works,” Washington Examiner commentary writer Christopher Tremoglie wrote on X. “Hint: It doesn’t mean you can just say anything and do anything whenever you want and be disruptive at a public event.”

Greene called for higher salaries and better pension plans for police officers. Still her post brought further condemnation from her 2026 opponent Clarence Blalock.

“No, you encouraged violence on someone because they dared to not quietly be part of your staged presentation, this is shameful,” Blalock wrote in response.

Williams, 45, was arrested and charged with simple battery of a law enforcement officer and obstruction of a law enforcement officer. Nelms, 40, was arrested under the same charges. Davis, 28, was the stand out with a city ordinance charge of vulgar language. All attendees were pre-screened by Greene’s staff to prove residency in her district, but Nelms provided identification that proved to be outside the district.

The department claimed in a statement that it was briefed with intelligence from social media that disruptions could occur at the event.

HOUSE REPUBLICANS PLAN TO AVOID TOWN HALLS DURING CONGRESSIONAL RECESS

“We are grateful for those in attendance and those who conducted peaceful protests outside of the facility. The Police Department provided designated areas in proximity to the facility where many people peacefully exercised their constitutionally protected First Amendment rights,” the APD wrote in a statement. “It is disappointing that a very small number of people actively worked to create a temporary disruption to what was otherwise a completely peaceful event.”

Greene asserted she was not intimidated by the behavior, signaling she will continue to hold town halls while other Republican lawmakers avoid them.

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