“The self-proclaimed Antifa militant who was killed Saturday by Washington state police as he attacked a local Immigration and Customs Enforcement detention center was seen in a recent CNN program that critics say glorified a radical, left-wing movement.
“Willem Van Spronsen, 69, sent a manifesto to friends the day before the assault in which he wrote, “I am Antifa,” and now he is lionized by members of the leftwing group as a “martyr.”
“He also appears to have been part of a May 5 episode of CNN’s “United Shades of America” with W. Kamau Bell. “The heavily promoted CNN show featured Bell explaining the “Redneck Revolt,” which he identified as gun-toting liberals who defend the Second Amendment and seek to battle the “alt-right” and neo-Nazis. “Bell called them “good guys,” going to a gun range with members and even questioning why “more white people” don’t share their viewpoints.
“One of the men featured on the CNN special appears to be Van Spronsen — who was armed with a rifle and incendiary devices when he launched his assault on the Northwest Detention Center in Tacoma around 4 a.m. Saturday, according to the Tacoma Police Department.
“Employees reported Van Spronsen was throwing ‘incendiary devices’ and setting vehicles on fire and the first officers on the scene said he was carrying flares. He allegedly was trying to ignite a propane tank when he was confronted by the officers, who opened fire. The Pierce County Medical Examiner’s office said he died of multiple gunshot wounds. “CNN did not immediately respond to a request for comment and a request to confirm that Van Spronsen was featured on the network.”
If you have a great Youtube or Vimeo video to share send it to [email protected]