Columbia News

Senator Eric Schmitt, a U.S. Senator from Missouri, posted a series of statements on October 15, 2025, expressing concerns about contemporary protest movements and their historical roots, while also addressing issues of law and order.

In a tweet posted at 17:48 UTC, Schmitt wrote: "Today, the progeny of groups like the Weather Underground can be seen on the streets of cities like Portland and Chicago, throwing Molotov cocktails at cops and federal agents. (Often with the backing of the very institutions their predecessors conquered.)" He referenced the Weather Underground, a radical left-wing group active in the United States during the late 1960s and 1970s.

In a follow-up tweet at 17:48 UTC on the same day, Schmitt continued: "But it’s not 1970 anymore. In fact, it’s not even 2020. It is time for the Right to undo the revolutions of the 1960s. It's time to take back our streets, take back our culture, and take back our country. You can read my full @FoxNews op-ed here. https://t.co/euH1oGJaqW" In this post, he called for political change and encouraged readers to access his opinion piece published by Fox News.

Later that evening at 21:37 UTC, Schmitt addressed residents of Illinois directly: "To all the Illinoisans who are seeking law and order — not tyranny — come to the Show Me State." The statement appears to invite those dissatisfied with conditions in Illinois to consider Missouri as an alternative.

The Weather Underground was an American militant left-wing organization that emerged from opposition to the Vietnam War. The group was responsible for a series of bombings and other violent acts during the late 1960s and 1970s. References to contemporary protests in Portland and Chicago have been frequent in recent years, particularly following high-profile demonstrations and clashes with law enforcement. Missouri, known as the "Show Me State," has at times been contrasted with neighboring Illinois on matters related to crime policy and public safety.