Alleged "Attack Victim" Kenneth Gladney Is Uninsured, Solicits Donations for "Medical Bills"

[Stephanie]

I will send a donation as soon as he releases his medical bills and hospital records.

Protestors gather outside closed union office

Kenneth Gladney sat in a wheelchair on Pershing Avenue Saturday, his knee bandaged, holding a flag that read: "Don't Tread on Me."

Gladney, 38, was handing out the same flags after a town hall forum in Mehlville Thursday night, when, he says, he was attacked by members of the Service Employees International Union.

Less than 48 hours later, protesters gathered Saturday in front of the union's offices, many of them holding signs with a slightly different version of the message: "Don't Tread on Kenny."


***

Saturday's protest was organized by the Tea Party coalition, which fights what it calls reckless government spending and opposes the president's health care reform proposal. The coalition is one of dozens of opposition groups attacking the administration's health care plans.

***

Gladney did not address Saturday's crowd of about 200 people. His attorney, David Brown, however, read a prepared statement Gladney wrote. "A few nights ago there was an assault on my liberty, and on yours, too." Brown read. "This should never happen in this country."

Supporters cheered. His attorney, David Brown finished by telling the crowd that Gladney is accepting donations toward his medical expenses. Gladney told reporters he was recently laid off and has no health insurance.

YouTube of the scuffle - Gladney is down for a few seconds then pops right back up and walks around.

Yesterday at the Tea Party outside St. Louis SEIU, he's in a wheelchair:



Where are your medical bills, Kenneth?

[mzteris]

1. you can't make this sh*t up . . .

besides - he certainly didn't look very injured in the video where he claimed he was attacked.

Why haven't we heard from the SEIU guy who WAS attacked, btw? Who attacked HIM?

[Stephanie]

3. That's a really good question.

[Stephanie]

5. There's this:

(Posted in full since it is a press release.)

http://www.seiu.org/2009/08/seiu-missouri-statement-on-last-nights-healthcare-town-hall-meeting.php

SEIU-Missouri Statement on Last Night's Healthcare Town Hall Meeting
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Published August 7, 2009 6:58 PM
Brandon Davis, 314-600-5407

St. Louis - Today, the SEIU Missouri State Council released the statement of Executive Director Brandon Davis:

"Last night, in St. Louis, a Reverend and SEIU member was assaulted at a town hall dedicated to discussing our national healthcare crisis. The incident, along with a town hall in Tampa, Florida, has been all over the radio and cable news shows. GOP operatives are rushing to paint it as SEIU thug violence. That couldn't be further from the truth.

"In fact, the Reverend, a St. Louis Post-Dispatch reporter, and others who attended in hopes of a peaceful dialogue about our nation's healthcare crisis, endured the latest attempt by right-wing fringe groups to hijack the democratic process through violence if necessary. Last night, the Teabaggers' violent tactics broke and dislocated the shoulder of the Reverend.

"Let's be clear: These groups, backed by insurance companies and corporate front groups, want nothing more than to preserve the status quo system of rationing, where HMOs choose doctors, and insurance companies deny us the care we need. Their dearest hope is that by resorting to outrageous charges of Nazism and euthanasia, they can make the American public too afraid to support real reform.

"But SEIU and hardworking women and men all over this country are standing up to their bullying tactics. We deserve a national conversation about how we will fix our failing healthcare system and help make this an economy that works for everyone."

[Emit]

45. The Reverend's shoulder was broken and dislocated?

That's a pretty serious injury.

edit spelling

[Emit]

51. Also, thought you may be interested, the wingers have released this YouTube video of Rev McCowan

"Meet Elston K. McCowan, the Man Who Allegedly Assaulted Black Conservative Kenneth Gladney"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tQfNDFQi2Ec

[Warren Stupidity]

53. That is three minutes lost forever. nt.

[Emit]

56. Lol!

Yes, but it pays sometimes to know what insanity they are spewing.

[Name removed]

11. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Stephanie]

12. Where is the police report?

Link?

[Marr]

16. Yeah, sure-- your concern is duly noted.

[sabrina 1]

17. Not a media nightmare for those who

came out to protect members of Congress from the rightwing thugs who had already assaulted one member of Congress and caused others to need a police escort to get to their cars.

Interesting pov from you and no mention of the thuggery that has been egged on by radicals like Glenn Beck placing the safety of members of Congress at risk.

[YOY]

19. So the White House called and told them to step up with violence, huh?

:crazy:

"Bluepup nothing...you're a little baby elephant, ain'tcha? Tell me, just what is it like knowing that the biggest long-term fuck-up of our time happened on your watch? What's it like trying to blame the otherside even when you know deep down that you did it?

[tridim]

21. Can I ask what prescription drugs you take?

[Name removed]

26. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[Warren Stupidity]

28. good idea

I suggest you just go and alert on yourself and demand your pizza RIGHT FUCKING NOW.

[Stephanie]

29. You said: "Because the SEIU guy was not attacked....according to the police report."

Yet you admit there is no such police report available.

[tridim]

38. Believe it or not, It was a serious question.

I'm trying to prove a pet theory.

[PA Democrat]

41. Enjoy your pizza!

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=user_profiles&u_id=243992

[Warren Stupidity]

43. The delivery service is excellent today.

[sabrina 1]

42. You claimed there was a police report. Now you say it

isn't complete. How do you know this btw?

Aside from all that, it now looks like your friend, the 'victim' may be lying (what a shock that would be)

Looks like there's evidence that an SEIU member was being attacked by his buddies and he was in the middle of it. He was pulled off the real victim, and fell but got right up and was apparently not injured at that time.

Also seems there is video of this incident so you all might want to be careful about supporting this guy who may end up being charged with assault himself.

Another interesting thing, in several reports I've seen he's described as a cop. If he is, how come he doesn't have healthcare?

I hope all this is verified before too long but you seem to be jumping to conclusions without considering the other side's claims at all.

And btw, what kind of pain medication causes someone not to be able to speak? Never heard of such a thing and I've known people on very heavy duty pain meds for end stages of cancer eg. The meds did not render them speechless. This guy sounds like a faker to me. I've seen children hurt worse than he is and not be rendered speechless.

[Kingofalldems]

49. Democrat leadership? ----Totally busted!

[SmileyRose]

55. 2 braincells

will tell you coming on the DU with 35 posts under your belt squealing about "be nice to the poor little republicans" is going to get you laughed out of the room.

[Warren Stupidity]

" It looks like his shoulder was dislocated."

Let me guess: all black people look the same to you.

The man holding his shoulder was wearing an SEIU shirt.

Nice try though. Are you hungry?

[Stephanie]

24. Oh wait! There IS no police report yet.

But this account by others who were arrested is rather chilling.

http://m.stltoday.com/STL/db_7567_index.htm;jsessionid=FC8334F3DF8A4BBBBF65F378C9967593?pn=0

MEHVILLE -- St. Louis County police arrested six people, including a Post-Dispatch reporter, during a demonstration Thursday evening outside a forum on aging called by U.S. Rep. Russ Carnahan, D-St. Louis.

Two people were arrested on suspicion of assault, one of resisting arrest and three on suspicion of committing a peace disturbance by way of interference -- all misdemeanors, said St. Louis County Police spokesman Rick Eckhard.

***

In a prepared statement released Friday morning, Carnahan said: "Sadly we've seen stories about disrupters around the country, and we have a handful of them here in Missouri. Instead of participating in a civil debate, they have mobilized with special interests in Washington who have lined their pockets by overcharging Americans for a broken health care system."

"I will continue to engage with constituents that I am honored to represent in Congress and fight to achieve long-overdue health insurance reform in our country," Carnahan said.

Echkard said the police captain was finalizing the police report on the arrests Friday morning and more details would be released soon.

One of those arrested was Brian Matthews, 34, of St. Louis city, who works as a rehabber and previously worked on a campaign for a Texas statehouse candidate.

"I feel like it was a bull rush," Matthews said Friday morning. "It all came from behind."

Matthews said he had been inside the forum because he is in favor of a public option for health care. He had attended with a friend, a 51-year-old woman. After the event, as the pair walked to their car, they saw a man on the street who looked as if he had been assaulted. Police surrounded the man.

"My friend took pictures," Matthews said, "and an officer told her not to. She contested that."

Matthews said he and his friend walked away, arm in arm. The officer followed them, and Matthews' friend exchanged words with the officer, Matthews said.

"I can't tell you how many police officers charged us from behind," Matthews said. "I was pushed to the ground by at least one. I was pushed into the back of somebody who was walking away."

Matthews said he was told he was arrested for interference. His friend was maced "after she was subdued by the police," Matthews said. She vomited many times, on the side of the road and then later in the police car, he said.

His friend, Javonne Spitz, 51, of O'Fallon, Mo, said she doesn't think she was interfering with anything.

The officer "told me I couldn't take a picture of them. He may have thought that was interference, I don't. That was a matter of opinion," she said.

Spitz works as a teaching assistant with kids who have emotional problems and behavioral disorders. She said she has never been arrested before. She said she came to the foum Thursday because "I wanted to see what it was all about." But protesters inside kept shouting down speakers, she said, and it was hard to hear anything.

At the forum, Spitz admits she was tossed out because she had been taking photographers of angry protesters as they tried to drown out the speakers. On her way out, a man "grabbed my arm and my camera and tried to break my camera." She told a policeman about it, and he replied: "I'm done." She took a picture of the officer and his badge, and "that made them all very angry," she said. "Too bad because they refused to help me."

As she was walking to her car, she saw the man on the ground. She recognized him as a local minister. She took his picture, to the chagrin of police officers, then was arrested as she walked away, she said. She claims she was maced even after her hands were cuffed behind her back. She said the mace made her sick. "It's very painful," she said. "I was crying, hyperventilating."

***

Spitz said she won't be returning to any such meetings anytime soon.

"These tea baggers are dangerous," she said. "I'm not going to any more town hall meetings until these people calm down."

Kenneth Gladney, 38, a conservative activist from St. Louis, said he was attacked by some of those arrested as he handed out yellow flags with "Don't tread on me" printed on them. He spoke to the Post-Dispatch from the emergency room at St. John's Mercy Medical Center, where he said he was awaiting treatment for injuries to his knee, back, elbow, shoulder and face. Gladney, who is black, said one of his attackers, also a black man, used a racial slur against him before the attack.

[BluePup]

30. I work in the court system

There is a pre-report (they may call it something else in that city). It is not included in any case files that may result, but is used as a guild for the prosecution and possible defense, if it comes to that.

There is no mention of any SEIU members being physically assaulted. They mention the Repub button seller as a possible victim with possible injuries.

[Stephanie]

33. Oh, so you've READ this "pre-report"?

You don't know what it's called in St. Louis but you do know what's in it?

[Hannah Bell]

36. you're prevaricating. to what end?

[YOY]

40. Why don't I believe you?

About the latter at least. Perhaps you do work in the court system. Someone has to mop the floors.

[ck4829]

44. And I'm sure the "pre-report" for Ashley Todd had her listed as the victim of an assault too

[sabrina 1]

47. So you're not from that city, but they let you read a

'pre-report or whatever they call it there', which is mainly for the defense and/or the prosecution presumably from that city? Are you a friend of the, umm, 'victim' then? Or are you just making stuff up for the hell of it?

As far as the assault on the SEIU member, why do you think that would not be included in a police report while this guy's is? Sounds to me like maybe there is some partisan politics going on in that police Dept. Well, assuming YOU'RE telling the truth.

[Warren Stupidity]

48. we will never know, at least not in this incarnation

the troll has left the building

[sabrina 1]

57. Ah well, probably for the best as it was unlikely

anything of value would have been learned from his/her response. Thanks for letting me know.

[YOY]

58. I love how it was pretending to be a blue dog.

So cute.

[PA Democrat]

31. According to the SEIU's press release, it was their member who suffered a broken & dislocated

shoulder.

http://www.seiu.org/2009/08/seiu-missouri-statement-on-last-nights-healthcare-town-hall-meeting.php

St. Louis - Today, the SEIU Missouri State Council released the statement of Executive Director Brandon Davis:

"Last night, in St. Louis, a Reverend and SEIU member was assaulted at a town hall dedicated to discussing our national healthcare crisis. The incident, along with a town hall in Tampa, Florida, has been all over the radio and cable news shows. GOP operatives are rushing to paint it as SEIU thug violence. That couldn't be further from the truth.

"In fact, the Reverend, a St. Louis Post-Dispatch reporter, and others who attended in hopes of a peaceful dialogue about our nation's healthcare crisis, endured the latest attempt by right-wing fringe groups to hijack the democratic process through violence if necessary. Last night, the Teabaggers' violent tactics broke and dislocated the shoulder of the Reverend.

"Let's be clear: These groups, backed by insurance companies and corporate front groups, want nothing more than to preserve the status quo system of rationing, where HMOs choose doctors, and insurance companies deny us the care we need. Their dearest hope is that by resorting to outrageous charges of Nazism and euthanasia, they can make the American public too afraid to support real reform.

"But SEIU and hardworking women and men all over this country are standing up to their bullying tactics. We deserve a national conversation about how we will fix our failing healthcare system and help make this an economy that works for everyone."

[Barack_America]

34. Dude, watch the video. The guy with the hurt shoulder IS THE SEIU GUY!

Or are you suggesting that it's really Gladney who was wearing the SEIU shirt?

:rofl::

[varelse]

35. Correction - it's a manufactured media nightmare

funded by lobbyists and whores for an industry that has gone off the rails.

[notadmblnd]

37. The guy on the ground is an SEIU guy. He's the one who had his shoulder dislocated

not the little pansy ass pictured in the wheelchair. The pansy ass was standing on the side at the beginning of the video and moved in when the bigmouth in the white shirt and the long haired guy with the cigarette in his mouth were about to kick the guy on the ground. Another SEIU guy pulled the little guy off and then he screamed assault. That's what I saw on the video.

[Emit]

46. Do you have a copy of the police report?

[Warren Stupidity]

50. Who said there is not such thing as a free lunch?

troll be gone, poof, troll gone.

[bluestateguy]

Hmmm. I was going to send him 30$ to help him.

But I saw this shower curtain at Bed Bath and Beyond that I just HAD to have.

[timeforpeace]

2. Irony abounds.

[Barack_America]

14. Indeed.

Got to hand it to Republicans, I've never seen people campaign against their own rights and interests with such zeal.

[YOY]

4. I smell either severe ignorance and a hint of possible fraud.

n.t.

[Scurrilous]

6. He has medical bills?

For what?

An ace bandage and an old borrowed wheelchair?

[Stephanie]

7. Well that's what I'd like to know - why doesn't he release them?

Unless he's Fleecing the Freepers. Wouldn't be the first time.

[YOY]

9. You know...fleecing them really doesn't all that hard.

If I had less scruples and more time to waste I bet I could rig up some fine scammage for them.

[Stephanie]

10. I have a birth certificate for sale...

[Are_grits_groceries]

8. Damn!

I just had the Irony Meter fixed. Back it goes to the shop for stronger parts.

[cynatnite]

13. I don't need to see his medical bills to know he is milking this thing for all its worth n/t

[ejpoeta]

22. i'd have to say the wheelchair is the first clue. i'm surprised the guy didn't have a neck brace on

too.

[Marr]

15. That's how you pay your propaganda celebrities.

I'm sure he'll get his "medical" bills paid just as long as he gets media attention and stays on message.

[tridim]

18. 100% pure political theater

The RW'ers suck at it.

It's obvious that guy took a dive.

Look at all the other disruptor videos, there are no black people in any of them. ZERO.

[YOY]

25. Funny thing isn't it?

All these lily white bastards are at the forefront, but who does this so incredibly fake-ass bs happen to?

Why a black man who agrees with them!

[City Lights]

20. Kenneth Gladney, heal thyself. nt

[liberalmuse]

23. People attracted to right wing politics are people of the lie.

I don't fucking believe anything these people say.

[Stephanie]

27. M. Scott Peck

How apt.

[notadmblnd]

32. The video (posted here somewhere) shows him just fine after the alleged assult

To me, it looked like the nutbags had a SEIU organizer on the ground with a nutbag on top of him. While another organizer pullled this little fella off. Then he screamed assult along with another nutbag coward who was leading the charge with his big mouth.

[Stephanie]

39. Video's posted in the OP

[heppcatt]

52. delete

[Stephanie]

54. Freeper hilarity:

God they are gullible!

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2311699/posts

Video: Ken Gladney attends protest outside SEIU St. Louis headquarters
Hotair ^ | August 8, 2009 | Allahpundit
Posted on August 8, 2009 10:04:14 PM EDT by BAW

Via the indefatigable Jim Hoft, who’s back from the rally with photos galore. When last we saw Gladney, he said he was in some pain but otherwise appeared in reasonably good shape; now he’s in a wheelchair and so heavily medicated that he can’t speak. What exactly did those goons do to him? Good lord. Like Jim Treacher said, if Gladney was an Obama supporter, right now he’d be more famous than Rodney King.

_________________________

To: BAW
Gladney was on Neil Cavuto's show the day after the attack, and he seemed fine, though his speech was a little slow. I just thought that's the way he talked.
I hope he hasn't suffered any permanent damage from the beat down he received at the hands of those Union goons.

[Mayberry Machiavelli]

59. I'm sure they are shelling out big bux to pay this guy's medical bills... not.

[Stephanie]

61. Ha Ha! Freepers: "Lets milk it!"

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2311699/posts

To: All

Well , here an opportunity waiting for us ( as always we blow every good opportunity)
Get Gladney face time , some how some way . Get Obama to invite him for a beer. I’m serious. Call every tv station , get Rush, Levin on it. Get this guy out there until we force the issue on people . OBAMA UNION THUGS BEAT UP BLACK PATRIOT. This is something we can really capitalize on. Just think what the LEFT would have done if this was reversed. This guy would hve been the new Rodney King ABSOLUTLY ! We need to adorp the tactics of the left as our own. Yea , I know the MSM is againt us but we HAVE to push this guys situation . He should be made a household name.
We need a know attorney who is a conservative to handle his case. We need someone with a NAME to donate to him or fight for him. We need to get this all over the news somehow.

31 posted on August 9, 2009 11:27:57 AM EDT by sonic109
< Post Reply | Private Reply | To 5 | View Replies>

-------------------

To: Drango

Give them no choice. We need to have this guy ou there all the time. Let him faint in Times Square for Gods sake. Lets milk it . This is how the left gains attention. We better learn the tactics of the enemy before it’s too late.

This guy is obviously a patriot. Market it . The “Don’t Tread on Me” is perfect , connect it to what he;s gone through . Make him the poster child for us.
I’m telling you this is an opportunity we need to jump on.

IT IS PERFECT !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

32 posted on August 9, 2009 11:33:18 AM EDT by sonic109
< Post Reply | Private Reply | To 22 | View Replies>

[zbdent]

60. have them release the ENTIRE video ...

not just the video they have where it STARTS when he's on the ground ...

I remember when there was outrage at a "liberal spitting on a wounded veteran" ... which, when you saw the video of the prelude to the "incident" (strangely, there was no video of anybody spitting on the "veteran"), the "liberal spitter" would likely have been in some redneck championship spitting games, because the "veteran" was more than 20 feet away from where the "liberals" would have been able to go ...

I doubt that there's "no" video of the lead-up ... these people go to these things with the intention to disrupt and catch the "libs" off guard ... like the "concerned citizen" whose video was on youtube ... I can just see these "concerned citizens" hanging around with their cameras and rushing off to show doctored footage ... Kenneth "never did a thing" to provoke the incident ... right ...

[Stephanie]

62. They just showed it on MSNBC

[ellie]

63. Is this performance art?

[Stephanie]

64. you're too kind

[Blasphemer]

65. Oh Please.... the GOP isn't paying him enough? Cry me a river.... nt