Counter-protester Newsome says assault at ‘No Kings’ due to 'absolutely zero' tolerance by protestors: 'They want their voices to be heard, but not ours'
Former Downers Grove GOP precinct committeeman Terry Newsome said he was struck four times by protestors at a “No Kings” demonstration on March 28 in DuPage County.
Newsome, host of the Behind Enemy Lines podcast, said he attended the event to counter-protest and that when he tried to engage protesters in conversation, the interactions quickly deteriorated.
“I tried to have peaceful dialogue with them, and they don't want to hear it," Newsome told DuPage Policy Journal. "As soon as they find out that you don't agree with them with respect to illegal immigration or why Trump might be considered a king, they verbally and physically assault you.”
Terry Newsome is verbally confronted by an older woman during the March 28 “No Kings”
protest in DuPage County, where he alleges multiple assaults occurred. (Terry Newsome)
Newsome said video footage he recorded shows multiple confrontations, including one in which a woman struck his camera and another in which a man pushed him.
Newsome said he did not suffer injuries but believes the situations could have escalated further.
“Now, when I say they don't beat the f*** out of me, I mean, I think they would if they could, honestly,” Newsome said. “They're supposed to be inclusive and tolerant, but there is absolutely zero tolerance at these protests. They want their voices to be heard, but not ours.”
He also described a separate incident in which he said a protester affiliated with Indivisible contacted police and accused him of assault.
Newsome said multiple officers responded but made no arrest after reviewing video he provided.
“The Indivisible coordinator at Glen Ellyn was following me around and reached out to the police to try to have false allegations filed to have me arrested, and he told the police he wanted me arrested,” he said.
Newsome said police initially told him he had “chest bumped” another individual, which he denied, saying video footage he provided to police showed him reacting defensively.
Police review video footage after an Indivisible DuPage organizer allegedly made false battery claims against Terry Newsome during the March 28 “No Kings” protest. (Terry Newsome)
He also said some demonstrators objected to being recorded despite participating in a public protest.
“They try to tell me repeatedly that I don't have their approval to film them,” Newsome said. “I am not allowed to film them, and they tell the police that as well. Even though they're in a public protest trying to get their voice out there, they do everything to try to impede us from having the opportunity to show exactly how intolerant they are.”
Newsome characterized the DuPage County protests as having mostly older participants and said tensions were driven by personal disputes rather than organized violence.
The “No Kings” demonstrations in DuPage County were part of a broader national day of protest.
According to reporting by Asra Nomani published by Fox News Digital, hundreds of groups with a combined $3 billion in annual resources helped drive the protests nationwide.
Alongside mainstream progressive organizations, the report identified participation by socialist and activist groups including the Party for Socialism and Liberation, ANSWER Coalition, CodePink, The People’s Forum and the Freedom Road Socialist Organization.
In DuPage County, Indivisible DuPage helped coordinate multiple rallies in communities including Glen Ellyn, Lombard, Wheaton and Villa Park, working with local Democratic organizations and civic groups to recruit participants.
The national Indivisible network, founded in 2016, organizes protests and advocacy efforts and is funded through a mix of institutional grants and individual donations.
Public records show support from the Open Society Foundations, backed by George Soros, as well as the Tides Foundation and other donors
Indivisible DuPage promoted turnout and hosted sign-making events primarily at Democratic Party offices.
“The No Kings protest throughout the country, especially throughout Chicagoland areas, chapters everywhere, they coordinate, they coordinate the making of the signs,” Newsome said. “They have them pre-made. They hand them out through the Invisible organizers.”
A “No Kings” protester at a DuPage County rally. (Terry Newsome)