HAPPENING NOW: Over the weekend, a peaceful protest against perceived authoritarian actions by President Trump’s administration turned chaotic when a driver intentionally targeted demonstrators with an SUV.
See the tweet below this post.
Joseph R. Checklick Jr., 21, faces serious charges for targeting liberals who were protesting what they call Trump’s “authoritarian” actions, while leftist media outlets rushed to compare the incident to the deadly 2017 Charlottesville tragedy.
Police in Culpeper, Virginia, swiftly apprehended Checklick after he allegedly accelerated his vehicle into protestors dispersing from a demonstration organized by local Democrats.
The incident occurred near a Walmart on James Madison Highway, where the “No Kings” rally had taken place.
The Culpeper Police Department reported that Checklick “intentionally accelerated his vehicle into the dispersing crowd, striking at least one person with his vehicle.”
Remarkably, despite the deliberate nature of the attack, no injuries have been reported.
The suspect is currently being held without bond at the Culpeper County Jail on reckless driving charges, and additional charges may be brought as the investigation continues.
The “No Kings” demonstrations were part of a nationwide effort by Democrats targeting President Trump.
These protests were explicitly organized against perceived “corruption” and what leftists describe as “authoritarian” actions by Trump’s administration.
This was despite the president himself recently stating, “I don’t feel like a king. I have to go through hell to get stuff approved.”
The mainstream media has already begun drawing parallels to the 2017 Charlottesville incident, where James Alex Fields Jr. drove into a crowd of protesters, killing one person and injuring others.
This comparison comes despite the significant difference that no injuries have been reported in this Culpeper incident.
As for now, local authorities are actively investigating the motivation behind Checklick’s actions.
The Culpeper Police Department has requested that any witnesses come forward with information that could assist in its ongoing investigation.
The Culpeper Democrats, who organized the anti-Trump protest, quickly posted on social media thanking police “for their quick response and for keeping our protest safe.”
The incident has attracted significant attention on social media and news outlets across the country, with some critics pointing out the disparity in coverage compared to incidents involving conservative demonstrators.
As this story develops, it remains to be seen what additional charges may be brought against Checklick.
Law enforcement officials are being careful not to speculate about political motivations until the investigation is complete, a standard that many conservatives note is often not applied equally when the political affiliations are reversed.
Man drives into crowd of protesters at 'No Kings' rally in Virginia.
Police say 21 yr. old Joseph R. Checklick Jr. intentionally drove an SUV into a crowd of protesters in Culpeper, hitting at least 1 person. He was arrested & charged w/ reckless drivinghttps://t.co/YWAXgpgwqd pic.twitter.com/mhCRquluYI— Shomari Stone (@shomaristone) June 14, 2025
