Life

GOP lawmakers hold symbolic book burning with flamethrowers

Disturbed viewers on social media accused the lawmakers of acting like "Nazi thugs" who are "coming for our democracy."
By
state Senators Nick Schroer and Bill Eigel using flamethrowers at a symbolic book burning in Missouri

Two Republican lawmakers in Missouri held a public book burning this weekend at a GOP “Freedom Fest” festival in St. Charles County.

Video shows state Senators Nick Schroer and Bill Eigel (who is also running for governor) using flame throwers to shoot fire at a pile of boxes while laughing onlookers chant, “Let’s Go Brandon,” the GOP’s code phrase for “F**k Joe Biden.”

Related:

Florida man arrested in connection to Nazi hate vandalism at LGBTQ+ centers

The graffiti included a “death to gays” Bible verse and swastikas.

On Facebook, Schroer posted a 3D photo of the burning and celebrated what he’d done, writing, “This is how we roll in St. Charles County! Burning down the swamp at St Charles GOP Freedom Fest with our grassroots bad to the bone fam. I’m very proud of how our county is finally coming together to ensure government is smaller, freedom isn’t just a campaign term, the constitution is honored, and our babies are protected (born and unborn). Things are heating up in God’s country.”

Disturbed viewers on social media accused the lawmakers of acting like “Nazi thugs” and called them “impotent” and “pitiful” men who are “coming for our democracy.”

Schroer seemed to use this as fuel for the fire, replying and defending his actions multiple times. He also called the book burning aspect of the event “fake news.”

In one of his replies, Schoer said he and Eigel were burning a stack of empty boxes as part of a fundraiser for a raffle. According to one political forum, the lawmakers had previously vocalized that they decided to burn empty boxes as symbols of “naughty” books so they wouldn’t have to actually purchase them.

Eigel did not address the incident on his X account, but his most recent post did declare that “the smell of fear is thick upon the leftists and swamp creatures that are fearful of the new Missouri we will deliver to the People in 2024.” His gubernatorial campaign website expresses plans to ban gender-affirming care, ban trans girls from women’s sports, and prevent so-called Critical Race Theory from being taught in public schools, along with “other ‘woke’ programs.”

Don't forget to share:
Life
Anti-Trans book burning Missouri Nazis

Support vital LGBTQ+ journalism

Reader contributions help keep LGBTQ Nation free, so that queer people get the news they need, with stories that mainstream media often leaves out. Can you contribute today?

Once Monthly Annually

Cancel anytime · Proudly LGBTQ+ owned and operated

Viktor Veltstra provides closure by identifying queer & trans violent crime victims

Previous article

Lauren Boebert is afraid her groping scandal cost her the 2024 election, panel suggests

Next article

More in Life