Ryan Thompsen was riding his bike home from work last Thursday in San Jose, California when the driver of a grey Nissan illegally blocked the bike lane.
When Thompsen stopped his bike to confront the man about it, the driver went off on a homophobic tirade. And the whole thing was caught on tape.
“That’s the bike lane,” Thompsen can be heard saying in the video, which appears to have been recorded from his helmet cam.
“Hey, no sh*t,” responds the driver.
How about we take this to the next level?
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When Thompsen tells him to get out of the bike lane, the driver says, “F*ck you” then calls him an “Aryan” and an “asshole” before directing him to go a different way.
“You’re a f*g,” the driver snarls. “You’re a f*g.”
“What does that have to do with it?” Thompsen replies.
“All Aryans are f*gs, motherf*cker!” the driver says. “Am I wrong?”
A local CBS news station identified the driver as Cornelius Lopes, who confirmed to the station that it is, indeed, him in the video hurling homophobic slurs for seemingly no reason at Thompsen.
Lopes is a former city council candidate from Newark, California who is said to be running for mayor next year.
He told reporters he was merely “exercising his right to free speech” and “violated no laws” when he called Thompsen a “f*g.”
But this isn’t Lopes’ first run-in with a cyclist. The Mercury News reports:
According to court documents, Lopes was also involved in an incident involving a bicyclist in 2004, when he allegedly extended his arm, striking a moving cyclist in the chest during a road race, and responded to a bystander who warned him not to go into the roadway during the race, “F— you, Jew.”
Lopes was later arrested and charged with “misdemeanor battery” for intentionally causing the collision with the cyclist, but according to the court documents “was never convicted.” He then sued the city of Newark, the Newark Police Department, the Newark police union and members of the Alameda County District Attorney’s Office for wrongfully arresting him. The lawsuit was dismissed.
Watch.
jjose712
Well, apart of homophobic he seems to hate everyone who is not like him, bascially.
What a piece of work, not surprising he is a polititian
Mack
Sounds like he’s running as a Republican. Hopefully the tape can be released in the local market he’s running in. Not really a politician I would like as my Mayor.
Cam
I love how these bigots think free speech is an excuse for bigotry.
Chrisk
Amazing. After going on a tirade of calling him a fag*ot he brings up race. What a bigoted and hypocritical POS.
Lastly, clearly that was a bike lane dumbass moved his car into. You could even see him look at the biker coming down the road as he backed into and blocked his path. Looked like he did it on purpose to me.
Kangol2
Looks like a winner to me. NOT.
MacAdvisor
So, Lopes was absolutely “exercising his right to free speech” and he most certainly “violated no laws.” He completely free to say what he said, but we get to hold him accountable for those comments in evaluating his fitness for office. The standard of the-action-didn’t-break-the-law is not the one I use for deciding who I will vote for.
lcandela123
Wow, This guy is an asshole on so many levels:
1) No one was disputing your right to free speech. The point is when you open your stupid mouth, we are all free to respond to it.
2) Running for mayor. Maybe you should be on your best behavior. Good luck!
3) Anti-gay, anti-Semitic, anti-white. Who else do you resent?
4) Frivolous lawsuits
Marco Polo
You’ve basically described Cornelius Lopes in summary. I would add “EVIL MONSTER” to describe him because that’s what he is.
poundmetoo
Well with all the white hate in America right now supported by the MSM and sites like Queerty racists like this guy feel emboldened to spew their hatred.
WillParkinson
And what about those Trump unleashes? I’m not saying you’re right or wrong, but at least I’m going to look at both sides.
PinkoOfTheGange
Oh please do tell us you forgot to close your sarcasm tag.
Cam
This is the new screename for “iamru2”
Notice how it tried to blame LGBT blogs and the media for racism? No Trump, no Republicans. etc…
(Eye Roll)
Kangol2
What “white hate”? What planet are you on? Every time I turn on the TV, scroll through this site or many others geared toward a general audience, etc., I see white people celebrated. What are you talking about? You sound entitled, fragile and privileged all in the same breath.
QueerTruth
There goes his race for mayor.
Bahahahaha.
I hope all his gay relatives now see who he truly is
Jared MacBride
Guy is a jackass . . . they come in all genders, sizes, and colors. But as bike altercations go this wasn’t much; cyclist should probably have shaken his head and ridden on, which eh could have done.
davidjohng
Absolutely not, he needed to expose him to the police and media for the entitled, angry, bigoted a**hole he is. It’s dangerous for cyclists when people disregard the law and park on the bike lane. And people in San Jose need to know who they are REALLY voting for. This guy has got issues and the last thing he needs to do is running a city the size of San Jose.
Marco Polo
I know people who recently encountered this homophobic, racist and evil asshole. He’s gotten away with this nasty and ignorant behavior for so long. He’s sued everybody and their mothers and that’s how he makes a living. He doesn’t have basic skills to even keep a decent job. Future employers need to run a criminal background on him before considering his application. He’s a liar too and will say anything to get away with murder. He’s aggressive and violent and needs to be exposed. The nerve to be running for a political post. He’s been caught on video and he can’t deny how he talks and treats people.
ShiningSex
HATE SPEECH IS NOT FREE SPEECH. IDIOTS!!!
Brian
Yes it is. That’s why they always used the KKK as an example when teaching free speech in school.
Was this guy arrested? No. There’s his free speech.
Cornelius Lopes
I have the right to say what I please let’s meet for a debate on HOMOSEXUALITY? Seriously, your low self-esteem is not my problem ASS HOLE LICKERS!
James
What wants to debate you. YOU’RE A CREEP. YOU STINKING RACIST LOSER.
Brian
Oh we lick much more than that.
Marco Polo
You are a disgusting parasite. Homophobic, racist, bigoted, ignorant fool who finds it difficult to be nice to others. You’re evil with every person you meet. Let’s see how successful your campaign for mayor is. You’re running for mayor of Newark; the city you once sued. You have no shame. You’ve made people’s lives miserable. Why would anyone want to elect you to be the mayor of a Bay Area city? You will be exposed for what and who you truly are; a hateful monster.