Protester assaulted at courthouse during trump protest; repeated actions spark concerns

A peaceful protester was assaulted Tuesday at the Westmoreland County Courthouse while engaging in a long-running demonstration against the Trump administration, police reports confirm. The incident raises questions about the escalating tensions surrounding political activism.

Daily protest turns violent as confrontation occurs

Gregory Powers, 36, of Greensburg, had been staging a daily “visible action” near the courthouse for 291 days, largely without incident. However, on Tuesday, the situation escalated when Justin Bowser, 31, of Texas, drove a Jeep onto the sidewalk and confronted Powers. According to police, Bowser pushed Powers, tore down flags and signs, and attempted to flee the scene. Bowser reportedly bent his license plate to obscure the registration.

Powers documented the confrontation and Bowser’s subsequent arrest on camera. Bowser now faces multiple charges, including misdemeanor theft and disorderly conduct, in addition to a felony robbery charge for allegedly taking Powers' American flag by force. Powers sustained no injuries and returned to the courthouse sidewalk Wednesday, undeterred.

“I have to endure”

“Other people have done similar things in the past,” Powers stated. “It didn’t stop me then, and it is not going to stop me now. We all have to continue, regardless of what is going on in our lives. We have to endure, and that’s part of what I am doing here as well. I am trying to show that we can rise up every day, in spite of all our challenges, and that we need to love each and every one of us.”

Abby Graham Pardus, head of WTF Can I Do Westmoreland, the group coordinating the protests and affiliated with Powers, expressed relief that Powers was unharmed but voiced concern over a perceived increase in political violence. She referenced a previous incident at an October “No Kings” rally where an elderly woman was assaulted with a Trump flag pole.

“When I go to these rallies, my husband used to come with me, and I have him stay home now with our kids because God forbid something happens, I want our kids to still have at least one parent. I know that sounds absolutely horrible, but that’s the world we live in,” Graham Pardus admitted.

KDKA-TV reached out to Bowser’s attorney for comment but received no response. The “No Kings” rally is scheduled to continue at the Westmoreland County Courthouse on Saturday, March 28, from 12 p.m. to 2 p.m.

The incident underscores the precarious balance between free speech and potential violence at political demonstrations, a dynamic that is becoming increasingly volatile across the country.

This isn't an isolated incident. The rise in such confrontations suggests a deepening chasm in political discourse, with real-world consequences for those who choose to engage in activism.