Community Corner

Rep. Young Confronts Angry Protester, Considers Legal Action

An FCAN protest led to the congressman allegedly grabbing a protester's arm while wielding his walking cane. A local attorney says Young is considering legal action against the protester.

For months, the Florida Consumer Action Network, or FCAN, has targeted local Republican Congressman C.W. Bill Young over his stances on military spending and taxes for the top two percent. 

Monday, FCAN organized a large protest at Young's Office in Seminole, Florida, to, "get a commitment from him to extend the middle class tax cuts, make the richest 2% pay their fair share, and protect Medicare, Medicaid, education and other vital services from cuts," a news release said. 

Instead of a commitment, they got a confrontation. 

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According to Creative Loafing, while one protester was yelling at Young, the Congressman from Florida grabbed the protester's arm and wielded his walking cane in the air, as if he was going to hit the protester. 

"As the office closed, Young arrived, flanked by St. Pete College police officers as well as staff members, including Glenn. One particularly persistent activist loudly asked Young about his stances, getting into close proximity of the 81-year-old congressman. It did not end well. Young grabbed the activist by the arm and raised his cane, largely looking like he was attempting to strike the protester until both were separated by the police officers present."

Find out what's happening in St. Petewith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Attorney David Jolly told Saint Petersblog that the Congressman is now considering legal action. 

"As for the accuser who’s pushing this story, this is a young man with a history of violating the law who has been physically following the Congressman for months. In the coming days counsel will be reviewing whether his activities rise to the level of stalking, assault, or tortuous harassment of any kind.”

Earlier Monday, Young was in St. Pete at the Bay Pines VA Medical Center at a ceremony for friend Ray Smith, whose son Sean Smith was killed in the Benghazi attacks on Sept. 11. 

Young helped arrange a flag flyover at the United States Capitol and presented it to Smith on Monday. 

A representative of FCAN told Patch that it cannot comment on the situation due to pending legal actions. 


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