Former Trump campaign manager Brad Parscale was arrested in Florida this past Friday, September 25 following an alleged "mental health episode."
Body cam footage of Parscale's encounter with police, however, has many conservatives up in arms. Parscale was calmly talking with a police officer when five officers approached from behind with automatic weapons and tackled him to the ground.
Body camera footage has emerged of the arrest of President Trump campaign advisor Brad Parscale. https://t.co/bdiErLesoT— Washington Examiner (@Washington Examiner) 1601320973.0
The police's violent response, familiar to many liberals who have been protesting police brutality for months, was an outrage to conservatives who finally seemed to care now that a Trump supporter was the victim.
There was no reason to tackle him. Completely absurd. https://t.co/XBPINlDuzM— David Reaboi (@David Reaboi) 1601321632.0
@dcexaminer Well this footage tells an entirely different story than we've heard the last 24 hours or so. Exits th… https://t.co/LsEKcCZq2W— Joey S (@Joey S) 1601321895.0
Republicans' hypocrisy was not lost on Twitter.
Parscale, who is having a calm conversation with a police officer, is assaulted by five other police officers armed… https://t.co/tFJLlphM82— August Takala (@August Takala) 1601318624.0
Even so, many liberals on Twitter felt they had to do the right thing and call out the unnecessary police brutality in this video.
@dcexaminer So he was claming talking to an officer, trying to explain himself, when other officers came in and tac… https://t.co/sDLCFDBiqo— R G (@R G) 1601321058.0
It's definitely wrong that anyone--even Brad Parscale--would be tackled by police like this, but the level of cogni… https://t.co/QoPV1Mmmr6— Charlotte Clymer 🏳️🌈 (@Charlotte Clymer 🏳️🌈) 1601322289.0
@dcexaminer Was that really necessary? Did they think he had a weapon on him? Is that why they pushed him so hard d… https://t.co/epZ8UHNcQF— getliquidized (@getliquidized) 1601321797.0
Even after seeing this video, however, most people didn't expect conservatives to understand the point of protests moving forward.
@AdamInHTownTX @dcexaminer I'm guessing that despite this instance of police brutality, widespread police brutality… https://t.co/bJKVo6v6Bs— sogelegos (@sogelegos) 1601322972.0
Others pointed out that, while Parscale's treatment was unnecessary, he emerged from the encounter relatively unharmed. The same cannot be said about many Black victims of police brutality.
@dcexaminer That tackle was unnecessary but he was still treated with more dignity than people of color.— Show must go on (@Show must go on) 1601322702.0
If Brad Parscale had been Black, he would be dead. https://t.co/yXu6IkiRyb— Amy Siskind 🏳️🌈 (@Amy Siskind 🏳️🌈) 1601348017.0
Police violence is a non-partisan problem that affects people of all political affiliations, even if one side cares only when it harms one of them.