The Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office is investigating a threatening note that reads in part, “we want blood,” that was left at the Duval County Democratic Party headquarters.Security footage shows a man wearing a gas mask and gloves approaching the back of the building. According to Democratic party officials, the man retrieved the threatening note from a plastic bag, taped it to the back door and then left.
In the video, the man appears from the woods wearing a gas mask and gloves, approaching the back of the building. He retrieves the threatening note from a plastic bag, tapes it to the back door, and leaves the area on foot. Based on the video, this appears to be premeditated. pic.twitter.com/iIAmTNhPfj
— Duval County Democratic Party (@DuvalDEC) December 18, 2020
The note contained the names and faces of party officers, and reads:
"We want blood. You lost the election. Redress our grievances now or we will. Be back later."
“We’ve seen threats of violence throughout the country about the election results, but I never expected to see it on our doorstep,” said Duval Democratic Party Chairman Daniel Henry in an email to WJCT News.
Henry said the letter’s intent was to inspire fear and perpetuate the false narrative of the election being rigged.
Related: Returns, Local, State And National 2020 Election News
“We will not be intimidated by cowards that lurk in the shadows in gas masks,” Henry said, emphasizing President-elect Joe Biden’s message that now is the time to unify the country.
A day after the Electoral College made the results official, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) congratulated President-elect Joe Biden and Vice President-elect Kamala Harris for their victory.
Despite the Electoral College's pronouncement, President Donald Trump has not conceded the race. In a Friday tweet the president wrote, "We won the Presidential Election, by a lot. Don't let them take it away." Twitter flagged the president's tweet for misinformation, saying "multiple sources called this election differently."
Both parties are condemning the threatening letter that was sent earlier this week.
“The Duval GOP condemns all forms of political violence. Threats like this have no place in our political discourse. We look forward to law enforcement apprehending this individual and punishing them to the full extent of the law,” the Republican Party of Duval County told WJCT News Friday.
The Duval Democratic Party is asking anyone with information about the incident to contact the Sheriff’s Office at 904-630-0500.
Bill Bortzfield can be reached at bbortzfield@wjct.org or on Twitter at @BortzInJax.
