Trump Retweets Photo Of Couple Who Pointed Guns At Black Lives Matter Protesters Outside Their Mansion

A white couple, who went viral for standing outside their St. Louis mansion and pointing guns at Black Lives Matter protesters, said they feared for their lives but support the racial justice movement. President Donald Trump later retweeted an image of the couple.

Mark McCloskey, 63, told KMOV-TV that he and his 61-year-old wife Patricia were facing an “angry mob.”

“It was like the storming of the Bastille, the gate came down and a large crowd of angry, aggressive people poured through,” McCloskey said. “I was terrified that we’d be murdered within seconds. Our house would be burned down, our pets would be killed.”

Mark McCloskey was seen yelling while holding a long-barreled gun, as his wife stood next to him with a handgun.

What a video by @xshularx.

A white couple emerges from their mansion, barefoot and carrying guns, to confront Black Lives Matters protesters going past. St Louis, Missouri. https://t.co/OiBZ0MtdUC

— Raf Sanchez (@rafsanchez) June 29, 2020

“A mob of at least 100 smashed through the historic wrought iron gates of Portland Place, destroying them, rushed towards my home where my family was having dinner outside and put us in fear for our lives,” McCloskey said.

The couple also claims they received death threats.

“One fellow standing right in front of me pulled out two pistol magazines, clicked them together and said, ‘You’re next.’ That was the first death threat we got that night,” he said.

However, one of the protest’s leaders, Rasheen Aldridge, denied that any such threats were made.

“Just like in many disobedient protests, even in the ’60s, you break laws, make people feel uncomfortable,” Aldridge said. “We’re not doing anything where we’re hurting anyone or putting anyone in danger.”

In a statement to CBS News on Monday, the couple’s attorney, Albert Watkins, said his clients fully support racial justice reform.

“Both Mr. and Mrs. McCloskey are lawyers whose professional careers have punctuated by their longstanding commitment to protecting the civil rights of clients victimized at the hands of law enforcement,” Watkins said.

He continued: “The most important thing for them is that their images (holding the guns) don’t become the basis for a rallying cry for people who oppose the Black Lives Matter message. They want to make it really clear that they believe the Black Lives Matter message is important.”