A meeting of the Saline County Republican Committee in Benton, Arkansas, erupted in violence Thursday night when a man punched a member in the face.
The shocking incident, captured on video by Kenny Wallis, shows Jimmie Cavin, 62, punching Johnathan Newcomb following a heated verbal exchange.
The chaotic scene unfolded after Newcomb allegedly made disparaging comments about a woman’s nose ring, according to conservative activist Cavin.
Cavin, who is believed to be 1.75m tall and weighs 89kg, said he “feared for his life” and acted in “self-defence” against the “huge” Newcomb, who he estimates to be a much younger and stronger man in his thirties.
A meeting of the Saline County Republican Committee in Benton, Arkansas, erupted in violence Thursday night when a male host unfairly punched a committee member in the face.
The shocking incident, captured on video by Kenny Wallis, shows Jimmie Cavin, 62 (pictured), punching Johnathan Newcomb after a heated verbal exchange.
Cavin has now posted his account of the altercation on Facebook.
According to Cavin, tensions rose when Newcomb allegedly booed and harassed Kandi Cox, a respected figure in the community, when she approached the microphone.
“Newc, who is easily 6’5″ tall and weighs over 350 pounds, yelled, swore and made obscene gestures at several attendees during the meeting. He particularly targeted a woman named Kandi Cox,” Cavin wrote.
‘If you don’t know Kandi, she is a wonderful woman who works miracles in our state and is loved in the community.’
Witnesses say Newcomb yelled, “Go polish your nose ring,” and made offensive gestures.
‘During the meeting, Kandi stepped up to the microphone to make a motion from the floor. Newc and others at her table began booing and harassing Kandi, who happens to wear a nose ring. Newc went so far as to make an obscene gesture at her and yell at her, ‘Go polish your nose ring.’
The situation escalated when Cox returned to the microphone later in the meeting.
Cavin said he intervened when Newcomb began intimidating the woman.
According to Cavin, tensions flared when Newcomb allegedly booed and harassed Kandi Cox, a respected figure in the community, as she approached the microphone.
Cavin, who is believed to be 1.75m tall and weighs 88kg, claims he acted in “self-defence” against the “huge” Newcomb, who he estimates to be a much younger and stronger man in his thirties.
Cavin maintains that he does not advocate violence, but believes it was necessary as a “last resort in defense of myself and others.”
Cavin reports that Newcomb began staring at Cox in an “intimidating” manner as she walked by.
“I was standing in the back of the room and when I saw what (Newcomb) was doing, I told (Newcomb) not to look at her, but to look at me and to leave her alone,” Cavin wrote on Facebook. “I was hoping that would calm the situation down.”
But tensions rose when Newcomb allegedly approached Cavin and asked, “What are you going to do, boy?”
‘I was standing in the back of the room and when I saw what Newc was doing, I moved to stand next to Kandi and told Newc not to look at her, but to look at me and to leave her alone.’
Cavin reports that Newcomb began looking at Cox in an “intimidating manner” as she walked by.
But tensions rose when Newcomb allegedly approached Cavin and asked, “What are you going to do, boy?”
“I was hoping to get his attention away from Kandi and that would calm the situation down. Then Newc started coming up to me and he was like, ‘What are you gonna do, boy?’
“I’m 62 years old, 1.75m tall and weigh 88kg. As I said before, Newc is a huge man and looks to be in his thirties. From the look on his face, I knew he was in danger and I felt Kandi and the others were too.”
Video footage captured the moment Cavin took a defensive stance and warned Newcomb to back off.
As Newcomb continued to advance, Cavin delivered the punch that left Newcomb bleeding.
“As he approached, I prepared myself by taking a defensive stance and told him to back off, which didn’t faze him one bit, so I raised my hand in an effort to stop him again.”
“However, he kept coming, I couldn’t hold him back and when he was on me, I knew I had no choice but to defend myself in the hopes of not getting hurt or worse. Fortunately, that worked, except I hurt my shoulder throwing the punches.”
Cavin maintains that he does not advocate violence, but believes it was necessary “as a last resort in defense of myself and others.”
‘To be clear, I do not advocate violence. However, I believe that violence is the last resort in defense of myself and others, as is our right under Arkansas law. Had I not acted to defend myself, I and others could have been seriously injured.’
‘My attorney spoke to several people present last night and they all said they felt threatened by Newc. Newc approached my attorney and tried to fight him after I left the building as well.’
The woman with the nose ring later thanked Cavin on social media for coming to her defense.
No charges have been filed so far.