An Indian-American woman was arrested on Wednesday in Bakersfield City Council chambers after threatening to “murder” council members and the mayor.
Riddhi Patel is charged with 16 felonies and has been put into jail
Riddhi Patel, a 28-year-old pro-Palestine protestor, is charged with 16 felonies and has been put into jail on suspicion of eight charges of terrorizing with threats and the remaining eight counts of threatening city officials during her speech.
She was seen sobbing in tears after hearing the felony charges against her.
During the council meeting’s public comment time, Patel expressed her opposition to the proposed security measures, notably the installation of metal detectors, which she saw as criminalizing the public.
Patel’s contentious remarks directly threatened the council, stating, “You guys want to criminalize us with metal detectors,” followed by, “We’ll see you at your house. We’ll murder you.” She further escalated her rhetorical speech: “I hope one day somebody brings the guillotine and kills all of you, motherf******.”
During her speech, she referred to “Navratri as a festival of oppressors” and invoked Mahatma Gandhi and Jesus Christ before threatening the local council members.
The pro-Palestine protestor’s aggressive and awful remark immediately went viral on social media platforms such as X (previously Twitter) and TikTok.
Collin Rugg and the Hindu American Foundation uploaded the video on X, which received over 3 million views.
“We are outraged that this person invokes Gandhi & Chaitra Navaratri while threatening to murder Bakersfield leaders,” the Hindu American Foundation posted.
“A known Hinduphobe, she has also been ranting against Hindus …. It’s the same antisemitic,” an Indian-American woman posted condemning Riddi’s action.
KGET TV, an NBC affiliate in Bakersfield, reported that the council “has been filled with tension” as “pro-Palestinian protesters urged council members to pass a cease-fire resolution for the Israel-Hamas War.”
Councilman and Vice Mayor Andrae Gonzales, who was present during Patel’s address, vowed that the council will not be intimidated. He criticized the threats, describing them as “completely inappropriate, unproductive, and deeply concerning.”
Gonzales said, “Sit at the table like adults and exchange ideas, go back and forth really trying to figure out how we can find a path together. Making real threats to elected officials and decision-makers is not the way to influence others. Nobody on the city council will be intimidated to action.”
The United Liberation Front, a pro-Palestinian organization, distanced itself from Patel’s actions. The group issued a statement condemning any type of threat against public officials, emphasizing that Patel’s strong language is not in line with their beliefs and does not represent the United Liberation Front’s position.
Despite the criticism, the Bakersfield City Council unanimously approved the security measures, including the metal detectors, during Wednesday’s meeting.
