Protester pulls knife on Tom Steyer staffer at LA campaign event

California gubernatorial candidate Tom Steyer faced a chaotic scene at a campaign event in Los Angeles, where a protester pulled a knife on his staff. The incident occurred at ORA Cafe in Leimert Park, where Steyer was addressing a crowd of black voters. He emphasized the debt owed to the black community and their role as the moral leaders of the United States.

Protesters disrupted the event, shouting at Steyer and blocking his SUV as he tried to leave. Video footage captured the tense confrontation, with agitators demanding Steyer’s stance on reparations and warning him not to return to “Africatown.” One protester even made a threatening remark about Steyer’s “devil blue eyes.”

Steyer’s team had to wait for a California Highway Police officer to arrive before they could safely leave the scene. Protester Dennae Wright expressed frustration with the Democratic Party’s approach to black voters, stating that symbolic gestures are no longer sufficient to secure their support.

Despite the protest, Democratic State Sen. Lola Smallwood-Cuevas commended Steyer for engaging with the community and showing courage in the face of opposition. She acknowledged the significance of Leimert Park as a hub for activism and praised Steyer for meeting the community where they are.

Steyer is a top contender in the race for California governor, according to an Emerson College poll that showed him tied for second place with Republican Steve Hilton. However, Xavier Becerra leads the poll with slightly higher support. As the June 2 primary approaches, it remains to be seen whether Steyer can secure a spot in the top two candidates. Becerra and Hilton have consistently polled better than the progressive billionaire.