Arrest and expel ‘radical’ pro-Palestine protesters who threaten safety, Ted Cruz says

U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz made a stop in Fort Worth Wednesday night to stump for Cheryl Bean, who is in a Republican Primary runoff for Texas District 97.

Bean, of Fort Worth, is running to fill the seat of Rep. Craig Goldman, also of Fort Worth, who is running for Congressional District 12.

Cruz, a Texas Republican, spoke about his grievances with President Joe Biden’s White House, immigration and the protests that are ongoing at college campuses across the country opposing the war Gaza .

Following the event, Cruz told the Star-Telegram he “absolutely” supports the deployment of Texas Department of Public Safety troopers across the state to the University of Texas at Austin’s campus.

On Wednesday more than 500 students protested on the UT campus grounds, with 34 arrests being made, including two journalists.

“Any radical who threatens the safety of another student should be arrested, should they be prosecuted they should be expelled and if they’re from another country, they should be deported,” Cruz said to the crowd, earning him a standing ovation

Bean also spoke in opposition of the protests against Israel.

“Our country is based on everyone having the right to express themselves and worship like they are,” Bean told the Star-Telegram. “We keep forgetting that it wasn’t the Jews that went out and made the first strike. It was the Palestinians.”

Groups of Hamas militants launched an attack on Israel on Oct. 7, killing more than 1,000 people and spurring the war in and around the Gaza strip.

During her speech Bean spoke about her campaign cornerstones and said that the biggest difference between her and opponent John McQueeney, was their voting record.

“You would think somebody running for public office could make up their mind whether they want to vote Republican or Democrat. Well, I had 40 years of consistently voting Republican,” Bean said. “My opponent voted Democrat for Wendy Burgess against Governor Abbott in 2014.”

Tarrant County Tax Assessor-Collector Wendy Burgess, a Republican, has not run for governor but former Democratic Sen. Wendy Davis did run against him in 2014.

While Cruz endorsed and came to speak at Bean’s event, he was not quick to endorse her fellow local grassroots politician, John O’Shae — whose runoff race against Goldman has received statewide attention.

“Call my office,” Cruz told the Star-Telegram when asked if he would endorse O’Shae, who was in attendance for the event.

Among other notable attendees were Republican County Judge Tim’ O’Hare who made the event’s opening remarks, and state Rep. Nate Schatzline who spoke after O’Hare.

Early voting for the runoff is May 20-24 and the runoff is May 28.