Following weeks of protest outside U.S. Rep. Ted Yoho’s Gainesville office, hundreds gathered at his town hall meeting Saturday, the crowd flowing into the driveway of Countryside Baptist Church.
The tension among attendees outside, most of whom stood in opposition to the Republican congressman, boiled over when a Donald Trump supporter was punched in the face and taken to a hospital.
Yoho, who represents Florida’s 3rd Congressional District — which includes Alachua, Clay and Bradford counties and parts of Marion County — has supported Trump since he was still a republican candidate for president.
He was one of several speakers at Trump’s campaign rally in Ocala in October.
At the 10 a.m. meeting, one of dozens that have taken place across the country between republican lawmakers and constituents, Yoho answered questions about issues such as Trump’s temporary travel ban, health care, LGBTQ+ rights and the alleged ties between the president’s administration and Russia.
After weeks of protesters gathering at Yoho’s office every Tuesday, Melissa Wokasch was part of the group protesting outside the meeting. The 40-year-old member of Gainesville City of Resistance, an anti-Trump activist group, said people on both sides were frustrated they weren’t being let in. Some threw their bodies against the gate while others argued with security.
“People were very frustrated that they weren’t being let in,” she said. “It certainly wasn’t an inviting atmosphere.”
Wokasch said the small venue made it impossible for people to participate in the conversation inside. She said she believed deception was at play.
“They chose a church that could fit 300 people and was outside of public transportation routes,” she said. “Gainesville’s a very diverse town, and I don’t think you can find 300 people to represent all of Gainesville.”
After the meeting, at about 11:49 a.m., attendees Michael Robert Chriss, 64, and Charles Duane Webster, 61, began to argue.
As the argument intensified, Chriss punched Webster in the face, causing Webster to fall to the ground, according to an arrest report filed by the Alachua County Sheriff’s Office.
Chriss told deputies Webster pushed him and then punched him in the stomach, ACSO said. Chriss responded by punching Webster back and walked back into the crowd of protesters.
Six witnesses saw Chriss punch Webster without provocation, according to the report. Deputies interviewed witnesses and found Chriss in the crowd.
Chriss was arrested on a charge of aggravated battery. He was taken to Alachua County Jail, where he was released Sunday afternoon on a $10,000 bond. Webster was taken to the hospital.
As of press time, Chriss could not be reached for comment.
Eli Barrett, 20, was standing outside as people left the church after the town hall. He said he noticed Webster being aggressive toward protesters.
“He was very threatening and very obnoxious,” Barrett said. “He had it coming.”
A man is handcuffed after allegedly punching another man in the face and knocking him unconscious after Town Hall with Congressman Ted Yoho at Countryside Baptist Church on Saturday, March 4, 2017. Witnesses said they saw the man throw the punch after an exchange of words and walked back into the crowd.
