Congressman Clay Higgins, a Republican from Louisiana, alarmed Americans on Tuesday when he shared an image of a group of armed Black men, threatening to kill them in the caption.
The photo Higgins shared was from a demonstration earlier this summer in Louisville, Kentucky, where the men were protesting the murder of Breonna Taylor by police. Similar to largely white demonstrators who protested lockdown measures around the same time, the men were armed with assault weapons.
Rumors spread that the militia would soon be headed to Louisiana.
Though that never happened, Higgins wrote for the men pictured to "have your affairs in order."
Screenshots of Higgins' words soon spread across the internet.
Higgins continued:
"I'd drop any 10 of you where you stand. Because some of We, like me... We, are SWAT. Nothing personal. We just eliminate the threat. We don't care what color you are. We don't care if you're left or right. If you show up like this, if We recognize threat... you won't walk away."
Facebook removed the post "for breaking [its] Violence and Incitement policies."
The removal outraged Higgins, who claimed the removal was a threat to the liberty of all Americans.
"No, I did not remove my post. America is being manipulated into a new era of government control. Your liberty is threatened from within. Welcome to the front lines, Ladies and Gentlemen. I suggest you get your mind right. I'll advise when it's time gear up, mount up, and roll out."
People were disgusted at his words.
Some said Higgins' philosophy was more or less that of most Republican lawmakers.
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