A vehicle transporting the Governor of Iowa reportedly hit a protester after activists attempted to encircle the vehicle.
Governor Kim Reynolds was riding passenger in a vehicle on Tuesday after stopping off at events in Steamboat Rock and Ackley.
During the trip, Reynolds’ vehicle became surrounded by Black Live Matter protesters from Des Moines, who demanded she immediately sign an executive order to restore voting rights for convicted felons.
According to the Des Moines Register, the activists, who were not permitted to crash Reynolds’ events, stood in the driveway of Family Traditions Meat in Ackley to block Reynolds from driving away.
Jaylen Cavil was struck by the vehicle as the group encircled the vehicle.
“The SUV that Gov. Reynolds was driving in drove right up to me. I was standing right in front of the car and I just stood there. I was like, ‘I’m going to stand here. Surely the driver of the governor is not going to hit me with her car. This is the governor, my governor, who’s supposed to be representing me. I’m sure that her car is not going to intentionally hit me.’ I was wrong,” he said.
Cavil was not injured in the incident, and the office of the Governor has yet to comment on the matter.
The Iowa State Patrol released the following statement:
“Today, the Iowa State Patrol investigated an incident that occurred near Ackley, Iowa, involving a demonstrator and a state-owned vehicle transporting Governor Reynolds. The vehicle was operated by a member of the Iowa State Patrol. As the vehicle started to leave a scheduled stop and enter the roadway, a demonstrator approached which caused the Governor’s vehicle to slow. The demonstrator stopped short and to the side of the vehicle. As the vehicle began to turn away from the protestor and onto the roadway, the demonstrator intentionally stepped in front of the slowly moving vehicle.
The demonstrator had little to no physical reaction to any contact he created and the vehicle then entered the roadway. Iowa State Troopers on scene made contact with the demonstrator and advised him to discontinue his efforts to block traffic.The demonstrator did not appear to suffer any injury, made no request for medical attention, and immediately began shouting obscenities at the responding personnel. The demonstrator and his group then proceeded to block members of the Iowa State Patrol from leaving the area.”
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