Anti-LGBTQ activist Ethan Schmidt (screen capture)Ethan Schmidt, 24, a right-wing extremist based in Phoenix, Arizona, posted a short video of himself announcing that he and his accomplice, Kyle Clifton, will be “hunting LGBT supporters” and others in area Target retail stores.
Ethan Schmidt, a right wing provocateur who has made videos with Kari Lake, Wendy Rogers, and Paul Gosar, warned Target he will “hunt LGBT supporters” in their stores and across Phoenix in June, stating they “are not safe” and they “can’t hide.” pic.twitter.com/O3ReHVN3qY
— PatriotTakes 🇺🇸 (@patriottakes) May 21, 2022
From the Los Angeles Blade:
Schmidt has a history of making right-wing extremist short videos including a harassment campaign against an Arizona wig shop that serves cancer patients.
Schmidt, who has been banned by nearly all social media platforms including Twitter for spreading false and misleading COVID-19 pandemic information had been visiting numerous retail stores in the Phoenix area including Sunny’s Hair and Wigs targeting those businesses that still require customers to wear mask.
He invariably creates videos of his encounters which he uploads to right-wing social media and web sites that he hasn’t been banned from.
In addition to his anti-mask campaign he has made videos with extremist conservative lawmakers including one with Arizona U.S. Republican Representative Paul Gosar telling antivaxxers “to stay the course.”
Right-wing extremist provocateur threatens to ‘hunt’ LGBT supporters https://t.co/yW3oPtpknO
— Los Angeles Blade (@LosAngelesBlade) May 22, 2022
Last Fall Schmidt posed with Trump endorsed Republican candidate for Arizona Governor Kari Lake as he burned a LGBTQ+ Pride flag.
Arizona State Senator Wendy Rogers made a video promoting Ethan Schmidt, who is now stating he will “hunt LGBT supporters” at Target and across Phoenix. pic.twitter.com/1CBmJGHYvN
— PatriotTakes 🇺🇸 (@patriottakes) May 21, 2022
In the past, Schmidt has:
• Been banned from the Arizona Capitol after harassing a black lawmaker, saying that his mask was a “slave muzzle.”
• Earned national headlines after berating store employees for selling Black History Month items.
• Been detained after his group harassed abortion rights protesters and his accomplice was arrested for assault.
According to the Tucson Sentinel, Schmidt is currently awaiting trial for DUI.