This is Elston McCowan.

Elston K. McCowan is a former organizer – now the Public Service Director of SEIU Local 2000 – and board member of the Walbridge Community Education Center, and is a Baptist minister, has been a community organizer for more than 23 years, and now, he is running for Mayor of the City of St. Louis under the banner of the Green Party of St. Louis.

[ed: This was from before the election.  McCowan is now a former nominee of the Green Party.]

All of that sounds wonderful, doesn’t it?  Well, except for the position with the SEIU and the whole Green Party thing (think Cynthia McKinney).

The problem with McCowan is that he is something more.  McCowan is a thug.

You’ve actually seen McCowan before.  He was in a video that has been played on just about every blog on the right, mentioned on countless radio programs and has even seen play on cable news.  The video sparked the protest that I attended on Saturday outside of the SEIU office here in St. Louis.  See if you recognize him now.

(Click image to view original YouTube video of the aftermath)

This is one of the men (along with another upstanding citizen in a SEIU shirt) who did this to Kenneth Gladney:

Kenneth, like many other protesters, went to the townhall on Thursday seeking to voice their opinion.  He had hoped to spread the message of liberty by passing out the Gadsden flag.  McCowan beat Kenneth over a flag*.  He found the message of liberty to be too much so he tried to stop Kenneth’s freedom of speech with his fists**.

And just think that these fine, upstanding individuals now claim that Kenneth attacked McCowan.

Don’t let them get away with this.  Stand with Kenneth.  Attend your local town hall, tea party or any event where you can speak your mind.  I suggest you organize something yourself if you can’t find an event near you***.  Heck, even if you are the only one that shows up, don’t let your voice be silenced.  Send the message loud and clear:

h/t to Bill Hennessy for the news.

*Don’t tell me there isn’t a certain sense of irony involved in beating a man passing out the Gadsden flag emblazoned with the words “Don’t Tread On Me”.

**How very becoming of a minister.  Remember that from his profile?

***Here in the St. Louis area there is a program called 99 Corners.  Individuals have pledged to organize protests on major street corners.  This could be a great way to get involved in your neighborhood.

Cross-posted at my personal blog.