Protester Identified in Abuse of Man With Parkinson’s Disease

Many of us were shocked by the scene of Tea Party activists attacking a disabled man with Parkinson’s disease who held a sign calling for health care reform. One man threw money at Robert A. Letcher, 60, and began screaming uncontrollably that him. The man has now been identified as Chris Reichert and he has issued an apology.

Letcher, a former nuclear engineer, suffers from Parkinson’s, was attacked while sitting in front of Rep. Mary Jo Kilroy’s district office. Since my father died after years with Parkinson’s (here and here), the video was particularly disturbing to watch Letcher dealing with such bullies.

Reichert now says “I snapped. I absolutely snapped and I can’t explain it any other way.”

He has added “I made a donation (to a local Parkinson’s disease group) and that starts the healing process.”

For the story, click here.