San Diego Unseen: An Urban Portrait
Tyler Kai Russo
Conservative bloggers, pundits and blow-hards are frantically sharing a video online that they say shows a member of the Occupy San Diego movement asking for a "moment of solidarity" to honor a young man who allegedly fired an assault rifle at the White House yesterday.
But the San Diego protester, 27-year-old Tyler Kai LoRusso, says that his words are being misinterpreted.
"Whoever shot at the White House is basically a terrorist," LoRusso tells CityBeat, "and I was holding a moment of silence for the White House and President Obama and everyone in the White House. I wasn't holding a moment of silence for the terrorist in any way. We're a peaceful movement, and we don't support people shooting at the White House."
To be fair, LoRusso's off-the-cuff speech during last night's protest could be interpreted as supporting the shooter, but only because he's not the most articulate speaker. (It's worth adding that usually at Occupy SD events anyone can take the mic and speak.)
For example, we asked him what he was thinking last night as he asked for his chance to speak and he said:
"I was just thinking how terrible it is that our nation has someone who tried to shoot at our White House, our country’s main deal, and that’s what makes our country beautiful is that we have a White House that carries all the establishment that makes our country awesome."
So, fumble-mouthed activist, yes. Failed-assassin sympathizer, no.
