Identity of Riddhi Patel Revealed: Indian-American Protestor Arrested for Threatening Bakersfield City Council Members with ‘Murder’

An Indian-American woman, Riddhi Patel, made headlines after being arrested for threatening to “murder” Bakersfield City Council members and the mayor during a council meeting. The 28-year-old pro-Palestine protestor was accused of 16 felony counts, including eight counts of intending to terrorize with threats and eight counts of threatening city officials.

During the public commentary segment of the meeting, Patel expressed her opposition to proposed security measures, particularly the installation of metal detectors, which she viewed as a criminalization of the public. Her remarks quickly turned contentious as she directly threatened the council members, stating, “We’ll see you at your house. We’ll murder you.” She further escalated her rhetoric by invoking Mahatma Gandhi and Jesus Christ before making the threatening statements.

The incident was captured on video and went viral on social media platforms like Twitter and TikTok, attracting millions of views. The Hindu American Foundation and other organizations condemned Patel’s actions, calling her a “known Hinduphobe” and denouncing her threats against the council members.

Despite the controversy, the Bakersfield City Council proceeded to approve the security enhancements, including the metal detectors, with unanimous consent during the meeting. Councilman Andrae Gonzales emphasized that the council would not be intimidated by threats and urged for civil discourse and exchange of ideas instead of resorting to violence. The United Liberation Front, a pro-Palestinian organization, distanced itself from Patel’s actions, stating that her aggressive language did not align with their principles.