Virginia State Representative Tara Durant, who is currently running for state senate against Democrat Joel Griffin, has shared her motivation for entering politics. Durant claims that in June of 2020, she and her daughter were confronted by a group of Black Lives Matter activists who surrounded their vehicle and caused damage. She called the police for assistance, but they allegedly informed her that they couldn’t intervene in the situation. Durant asserts that this incident prompted her to pursue a political career, with the safety of her daughter and herself becoming a central focus of her campaign. She believes that it exemplifies the consequences of the “defund the police” movement.
However, an obtained 911 call paints a different picture of the events. In the call, Durant can be heard threatening to hit the protesters with her car. The Huffington Post reports that while one individual did climb onto her car, it was a 13-year-old who was not associated with the protest and was reprimanded by other protesters. Durant attempted to press charges against two teenagers for allegedly assaulting her vehicle, but one of them wasn’t even present at the protest. The charges against the other protester were ultimately dismissed, as they were found not guilty.
At the time of publication, Durant’s campaign had not responded to requests for comment from The Root. With the election just days away, this news is likely an unwelcome surprise for Durant and her team. For more updates, readers can sign up for The Root’s newsletter or follow their social media accounts on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. The full article can be accessed by clicking here.
