Right-wing agitator says he'll 'hunt' Phoenix LGBTQ supporters and they are 'not safe'

Back in January, a social media driven right-wing instigator was banned from the Arizona Capitol for harassing lawmakers and staff over wearing masks.

Ethan Schmidt, founder of a group called the Antimaskers Club, confronted a masked House Minority Leader Reginald Bolding, who is Black, and repeatedly asked Bolding why he was wearing a “slave muzzle.” Schmidt also threw a Nazi salute and shouted “Hail Fauci!”

So, I guess we can add racism and anti-Semitism to this guy’s resume.

And homophobe.

In a recent online posting, Schmidt, who has cozied up to Republican politicians like Kari Lake, Wendy Rogers and Paul Gosar, getting photos and videos with them, is now threatening to disrupt Target stores for the company’s support of the LBGTQ community. He also said he will “hunt” LBGTQ supporters in Phoenix, adding, they are “not safe.”

Making threats in Arizona is a crime

In a tweet released by PatriotTakes, which monitors right-wing extremists, Schmidt, in a moving vehicle with a friend, first rants against Target, then says:

I also like to hunt LGBT supporters on my free time. That’s one of my favorite pastimes, you know. Also we’re going to be going on hunting expeditions pretty soon, you know, hunting the LGBT supporters across Arizona and Phoenix. So, you know, keep an eye out for that because you’re not safe. If you support the LGBT agenda, you’re not safe. You’re not safe. Right, Kyle? (That's the driver, who responds, “yep.”)

I’m not sure if Schmidt is aware that it is a crime in Arizona to threaten violence, severe property damage, or cause serious public inconvenience. And that those cases can be prosecuted as felonies.

But I’d guess that somewhere in the twisted playbook followed by bad actors there is a chapter suggesting that provocateurs like Schmidt not put such comments on video.

Target must be aware of Schmidt’s menacing public pronouncements. So, too, the local LGBTQ community.

And law enforcement.

At least I hope so.

Politicians offer him photo ops

Schmidt also made the news some time back when he joined a small group of extremists disrupting an abortion rights rally here. One of the guys Schmidt was with wound up being arrested for assault and disorderly conduct after state troopers saw him punch another person at the rally.

Schmidt also instigated a harassing attack on a Mesa wig store that caters to people undergoing cancer treatment because the store had a mask requirement.

The wonders of the internet have allowed bullies like this to get their jollies by way of bluster, intimidation and a seemingly infinite supply of gullible followers.

That’s bad enough.

What’s worse is that from politicians like Rogers, Gosar and Lake, a guy like Schmidt doesn’t get condemnation. He gets smiles. Affirmation. And a photo op.

Reach Montini at ed.montini@arizonarepublic.com.

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This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Ethan Schmidt targets Target, plans to 'hunt' Phoenix LGBTQ supporters