White nationalist Christopher Cantwell, 36 (pictured), who claims he pepper-sprayed a demonstrator in self-defense says he hates being labeled ‘the crying Nazi’
A white nationalist who claims he pepper-sprayed a demonstrator in self-defense says he hates being labeled ‘the crying Nazi’.
Christopher Cantwell, 36, received the moniker after he recorded a tearful video upon hearing he was wanted for arrest after attacking protesters at the University of Virginia on August 11.
‘One minute I’m a f*****g white supremacist terrorist and the next minute I’m a f*****g crybaby,’ Cantwell told The Daily Beast from jail. ‘I’m a goddamn human being!’
On August 12, Cantwell posted a video to YouTube showing him choking back tears as he expressed his fears about being arrested over the pepper-spraying incident.
‘I thought that spraying that guy was the least damaging thing I could do,’ he is seen saying.
‘In my left hand, I had a flashlight. My other option, other than the pepper spray, was to break this guy’s teeth. OK? And I didn’t want to do that. I just wanted him to not hurt me.’
Cantwell received the moniker after he recorded a tearful video over his possible arrest after attacking protesters at the University of Virginia on August 11 (pictured)
‘I thought that spraying that guy was the least damaging thing I could do. I just wanted him to not hurt me,’ he said in the video (pictured)
The YouTube video was posted one day before Vice News published its documentary earlier this month about the white supremacist rally in Charlottesville, which Cantwell helped to organize.
The documentary shows Cantwell showing off his weapons, calling the killing of counter-protester Heather Heyer ‘more than justified’ and claiming ‘more people are going to die’.
He’s also heard calling blacks ‘savages’ and saying that he was disgusted that President Donald Trump ‘let a Jew steal his daughter’, referring to Jared Kushner marrying Trump’s daughter Ivanka.
On August 23, Cantwell turned himself in after two citizen activists swore before a magistrate that he attacked them.
And although he claims self-defense, one of the two who swore out the warrants against him, Emily Gorcenski, says that’s not the case.
‘It was 300 against 30, and they had us surrounded,’ Gorcenski told The Daily Beast, recalling the torch rally. ‘If anyone has a self-defense claim, it’s us who were at the statue.’
The YouTube video was posted one day before Vice News published its documentaryabout the white supremacist rally in Charlottesville, The documentary shows Cantwell (pictured) showing off his weapons, calling the killing of counter-protester Heather Heyer ‘more than justified’ and claiming ‘more people are going to die’
The documentary also has Cantwell (pictured) showing off his weapons, calling blacks ‘savages’ and saying that he was disgusted that Donald Trump ‘let a Jew steal his daughter’
Cantwell (pictured) was charged with two felony counts of illegal use of tear gas, phosgene and other gases; and one felony count of malicious bodily injury by means of any caustic substance or agent or use of any explosive or fire. Each felony carries a five-year sentence
Currently, Cantwell, from New Hampshire, says he’s being held in solitary confinement at the Albemarle-Charlottesville Regional Jail out of concerns for his safety.
‘When I come down here for a permitted demonstration, championed by the ACLU, where the police are supposed to be clearing our enemies from our path, and then I find myself involved in a riot facing 20 years in prison, I got emotional, shockingly enough,’ Cantwell said.
Cantwell was charged with two felony counts of illegal use of tear gas, phosgene and other gases; and one felony count of malicious bodily injury by means of any caustic substance or agent or use of any explosive or fire, reported WWBT.
Each of the three felonies Cantwell is charged with carries a five-year sentence.