'Lock her up': Internet demands strict punishment for anti-Israel protester Ridhi Patel who threatened to kill Bakersfield City Council members

BAKERSFIELD, CALIFORNIA: After reportedly threatening to kill public officials during a city council meeting, an anti-Israel demonstrator in California broke down in tears as a judge arraigned her on Friday, April 12.

Riddhi Patel, 28, wept as she entered a not-guilty plea to 18 felony counts.

Patel had previously made remarks to Republican Bakersfield Mayor Karen Goh and members of the city council about their support of metal detectors at city hall and their lack of support for a resolution opposing Israel's Gaza ceasefire.

Ridhi Patel arrested for threatening city government officials 

Rishi Patel was mandated to remain at least 500 yards away from city hall and was detained on a $1 million bail, the New York Post reported.

During Wednesday, April 10, city council meeting's public comment period, Patel was captured on camera saying that she hoped oppressed minorities would execute city government officials, saying that even Jesus Christ would kill them, and threatened to go to their homes and kill them.

The activist later expressed hope that "the global south" would rise and put an end to the oppression of Palestinians and people anywhere in the world, accusing the council members of being indifferent to it.

"I remind you that these holidays that we practice, that other people in the global south practice, believe in violent revolution against their oppressors, and I hope one day somebody brings the guillotine and kills all of you mother——,” Patel said.

Later, Patel accused the mayor and city council of allegedly trying to "criminalize" protestors by putting additional security measures like metal detectors in the building.

She concluded her speech by saying, “We’ll see you at your house. We’ll murder you.” Goh asked the police officers present at the meeting to lead the protester out of the building as soon as Patel concluded his remarks.

Following her arrest, Patel faced ten charges of making threats with the intention of terrorizing people and eight counts of threatening state officials.

According to the Los Angeles Times, Patel was raised in Bakersfield and is currently employed by a nearby nonprofit as an economic development coordinator. Patel's next court date is April 24.

Internet demands that Ridhi Patel be punished

As soon as the news of Ridhi Patel's "murder" remarks to the mayor went viral on X, netizens started demanding a strict punishment for her.

One social media user asked to put an "ankle tracker" on her and said, "Put a ankle-tracker on her....for 10 years. No vacations....Saturday out picking up trash for ten years. Restrict her internet use to just Sundays. Don't waste time, money or funds on jail."

Another demanded, "Lock her up & throw the keys away!!"

"Rot in jail," wrote another commentator.

One person remarked, "This woman deserved exactly what she got. You don't threaten to murder Public Officials twice in a speech and expect to get a free pass. What's the term for fake crying, crocodile tears?"

This article contains remarks made on the Internet by individual people and organizations. MEAWW cannot confirm them independently and does not support claims or opinions being made online.