Monday, June 29, 2020

They broke down the fence to gain access to the property: What would you do? This is where unbridled self righteousness ends up

'Keep moving!' Moment lawyer couple brandish an AR-15 and a handgun at protesters marching past their mansion in an upscale St. Louis neighborhood

  • Husband and wife, Mark and Patricia McCloskey could be seen aiming the guns at demonstrators who walked by their palatial property in St. Louis on Sunday
  • At one point, the pair seemed to be unknowingly pointing their weapons at one another other while trying to keep protesters away
  • Mark held a large assault weapon while his wife Patty held a handgun
  • The protesters were en route to Mayor Lyda Krewson's home to demand her resignation
  • Mayor Krewson released names and addresses of residents who suggested defunding the police department
  • The couple are both personal injury lawyers and run McCloskey Law Center from inside their extravagant home
  • Mark McCloskey had previously represented  a victim of police brutality
Patricia McCloskey
Mark McCloskey
Husband and wife, Mark and Patricia McCloskey are both personal injury lawyers
Mark McCloskey can be seen coming out of the front door to protect his home
Mark McCloskey can be seen coming out of the front door to protect his home
In the pictures shared online, it doesn’t appear that anyone walking in Sunday’s protest calling for the resignation of St. Louis Mayor Lyda Krewson was trespassing on their palatial property
In the pictures shared online, it doesn't appear that anyone walking in Sunday's protest calling for the resignation of St. Louis Mayor Lyda Krewson was trespassing on their palatial property
The protesters were en route to Mayor Krewson's home to demand her resignation after she released names and addresses of residents who suggested defunding the police department
The protesters were en route to Mayor Krewson's home to demand her resignation after she released names and addresses of residents who suggested defunding the police department
Twitter users were not happy at the St. Louis mayor releasing names and addresses of people who wanted to defund the police
Twitter users were not happy at the St. Louis mayor releasing names and addresses of people who wanted to defund the police 
An online petition started over the weekend calling for Mayor Krewson to resign has generated more than 40,000 signatures. 
On Friday night, Mayor Lyda Krewson issued a statement apologizing for her actions. The full statement read: 'In an effort to be transparent and accessible to the public during the Covid-19 pandemic, for more than three months now I have been doing tri-weekly community updates on Facebook. 
'Tonight, I would like to apologize for identifying individuals who presented letters to me at City Hall as I was answering a routine question during one of my updates earlier today. 
'While this is public information, I did not intend to cause distress or harm to anyone. The post has been removed.'
A protester holds a flyer calling for the resignation of St. Louis Mayor Lyda Krewson as a couple defend their home during a protest against the mayor
A protester holds a flyer calling for the resignation of St. Louis Mayor Lyda Krewson as a couple defend their home during a protest against the mayor
An online petition started over the weekend calling for Mayor Krewson to resign has generated more than 40,000 signatures. Pictured: Police officers standing guard during the protest against Mayor Krewson
An online petition started over the weekend calling for Mayor Krewson to resign has generated more than 40,000 signatures. Pictured: Police officers standing guard during the protest against Mayor Krewson
Protesters hold signs reading 'wanted' and 'Black trans lives matter' during a protest against Mayor Krewson
Protesters hold signs reading 'wanted' and 'Black trans lives matter' during a protest against Mayor Krewson
The word 'resign'  is seen painted on the street in front of Mayor Krewson's house in St. Louis
The word 'resign'  is seen painted on the street in front of Mayor Krewson's house in St. Louis
The ACLU of Missouri issued the following statement Friday evening regarding Mayor Krewson's reading of names and addresses:
'Today adds to the list of things we never thought we would have to say. To be clear, it is shocking and misguided for Mayor Lyda Krewson of St. Louis, to broadcast the addresses of those who dare to express a different viewpoint on an issue of public concern. 
'It serves no apparent purpose beyond intimidation. We are stronger when we foster open dialogue. The chilling of debate should bother everyone, no matter whether they agree or disagree with the mayor on this particular issue.'
The McCloskeys, who have one grown-up daughter, bought their palatial home in 1988 when Mark said it 'had quarter-inch-thick carbon on it in some places'.
They renovated it to its original standards in a massive 30-year project which they spoke about at great lengths in a 2018 interview.
The enormous estate features a sweeping entry hall and an enormous dining room. One of its most-prized rooms is the 70-foot long ballroom modelled off a hall in the Palazzo Davanzati in Florence.
Signs left on the door of Mayor Krewson's house are seen during a protest calling for her resignation
Signs left on the door of Mayor Krewson's house are seen during a protest calling for her resignation
A sign reading 'Krewson puts her own citizens in danger' was left on the mayor's doorstep
A sign reading 'Krewson puts her own citizens in danger' was left on the mayor's doorstep
The home - dubbed a 'Renaissance palazzo' previously belonged to Edward and Anna Busch at the start of the 20th century. 
Mrs McCloskey previously said the original owners' goal was 'to build one of the most lavish and grand houses in the Midwest'.
The house has five floors and is modelled off European Renaissance palaces. The original owners brought in a 'village of Italian stonemasons that lived in a tent city in the side yard while they finished the stonework' in the luxurious home, Mr McCloskey said.
Mrs McCloskey added: ‘There’s a Medici house in Florence where you come in the front door and it’s exactly like this. But we haven’t found it yet.'
The couple carry out their person injury law practice from the historic home. 
'The goal of our practice is to provide those sustaining such devastating injuries, or the survivors of those killed as a result of such devastating injuries, with meaningful compensation,' their website says. 
Both attended Southern Methodist University School of Law. 
Patricia McCloskey's bio lists her as having held roles as a member of the Missouri Bar Association ethical review panel and a St. Louis city committee woman. 

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