While Democrats organized anti-Trump “No Kings” protests across Virginia, a 21-year-old driver intentionally drove his SUV to strike protesters at one such event.
Read the tweet further down this post.
Joseph R. Checklick Jr. was arrested after reportedly accelerating into the crowd dispersing from a rally against President Trump’s administration.
Culpeper police officers arrested 21-year-old Checklick Jr. over the weekend, following what authorities described as an intentional attack on protesters.
According to police reports, Checklick allegedly drove his SUV “recklessly through the crowd of pedestrians” who were leaving a Democrat Party-organized “No Kings” demonstration on James Madison Highway.
The incident happened as participants crossed through a business parking lot near a local Walmart, where protesters had gathered to voice opposition to what they called Trump’s “authoritarian” actions.
The Culpeper Police Department stated that Checklick “intentionally accelerated his vehicle into the dispersing crowd, striking at least one person with his vehicle.”
Remarkably, despite the deliberate nature of the attack described by authorities, no injuries have been reported.
The suspect is currently being held without bond at the Culpeper County Jail on charges of reckless driving.
Officials indicated that additional charges may be forthcoming as the investigation continues.
Police say a driver in an SUV intentionally drove into a crowd of protesters in Culpeper, hitting at least one person. https://t.co/qMKHYJeNzt
— FOX 29 (@FOX29philly) June 15, 2025
The “No Kings” protests were part of a nationwide protest movement against President Trump and his administration.
The name references comments Trump had previously made about presidential authority, though ironically, Trump himself has complained about limitations on his executive power, saying, “I don’t feel like a king. I have to go through hell to get stuff approved.”
In spite of the claims against authoritarianism, these Democrat-organized protests appear to be attempting to undermine a democratically elected president using provocative rhetoric.
In what appears to be an attempt to link this incident to previous violence, mainstream media outlets have been quick to draw comparisons to the 2017 Charlottesville tragedy.
During that event, James Alex Fields Jr. drove into a crowd of protesters, killing Heather Heyer and injuring numerous others.
Fields was later convicted of first-degree murder and multiple other charges.
The comparison seems designed to create a narrative about right-wing violence, despite no information being released about Checklick’s political motivations or affiliations.
The Culpeper Democrats, who organized the local protest, quickly took to social media to thank law enforcement, posting: “We thank the Culpeper Police Department for their quick response and for keeping our protest safe.”
Moreover, the police department has launched an active investigation into the incident, asking witnesses to come forward with any information.
As has become increasingly common, several bystanders captured the incident on video, and the footage quickly spread across social media platforms.
While violence against peaceful protesters can never be condoned, regardless of political affiliation, it is worth noting how differently the media treats incidents based on the political identity of those involved.
When violent riots occurred in cities across America during the summer of 2020, many mainstream outlets described them as “mostly peaceful protests” despite billions in property damage.
The immediate coverage and condemnation of this incident, where thankfully no one was seriously injured, highlights the ongoing double standard in reporting based on perceived political alignment.
