Pa. Rep. Aaron Bernstine tweets he would run over road-blocking protesters

A Western Pennsylvania representative pledged on Twitter violence against protesters.

Published Sep. 18, 2017, 10:09 a.m. ET

State Rep. Aaron Bernstine took offense that protesters in St. Louis were blocking the streets after the acquittal of a police officer charged with murder in the death of a black man who was fatally shot after a chase.

Although no one is yet blocking roads in Butler County, Bernstine, who represents a district north of Pittsburgh in the western part of the state, voiced his views with the type of bravado Twitter is known for.

The tweet, of course, provoked some negative reaction.

Bernstine, however, doubled down.

Not just ISIS. In Charlottesville, Va., last month, protester Heather Heyer died when she was hit by a car while rallying against white supremacists.

The legislator sent a message to fellow lawmakers over the weekend explaining the tweets and saying his message was misconstrued by media outlets:

"Fellow members,

I know some of you have been informed about a tweet I posted last evening that said 'If anyone ever tries to stop my car on a highway with negative intentions… I will not stop under any conditions'.

Since I posted this, it has been picked up by several state and national publications and my words have been misconstrued in their headlines.

Taking my comments to that extreme is just absurd.

My intent was simply to let people know that I, along with what I believe are many others, have grown tired of those who are committing crimes and acts of violence in the name of peaceful protest.

As we all have come across times where our words were completely changed to fit a false narrative, I wanted you to be aware of what transpired if you were contacted by one of your

— Some of these headlines include ‘Republican lawmaker vows to run over protesters who block highways’ and ‘GOP lawmaker threatens to run over protesters with his car.’

Perhaps Bernstine just needs some perspective: