A White American man is fighting a free speech battle after being charged with a hate crime for telling a black man he was “acting like a nigger” during a dispute in a gas station.
Christopher Carl Wood, 29, a former mayoral candidate from the city of Wausau, Wisconsin, is due to face Marathon County Court on August 14 charged with “disorderly conduct, hate crime” over an incident on May 12.
Mr Wood shared a copy of his court summons on X and wrote: “They have officially charged me with a ‘Hate Crime’ over my speech. Potentially 90 days in the big house.”
“I told someone ‘you’re acting like a nigger’. The police gave me a $250 citation saying disorderly conduct. The DA waited till the court date to dismiss my original municipal court date and escalated it to county circuit court.
“I’m not paying, I’m fighting. Freedom of Speech.”
A quick explanation of the events leading up to my “Hate Crime” charge.
By the way, its not hateful or wrong to tell someone that they are “acting like a N-gger”.
How else will people realize and improve their character?
Part One pic.twitter.com/ras0Jhvqn4
— Christopher Wood (@leaderoftheUSA) July 30, 2024
In a video posted to X, Mr Wood said he was at the Kwik Trip store buying fuel, two gallons of milk and a case of water when he got into a verbal altercation with a black man near the hot food section.
“I was a little exhausted, a little fatigued, at his behaviour, so I told him “you’re acting like an N-word’,” Mr Woods said.
“Then the whole gas station, everyone just like ‘oh my God’ … then you’ve got the cash register lady, drops what she’s doing, stops checking out people, straight to the phone, 911, ‘get here quick, someone said the N-word’.”
Mr Wood said on Friday that he now has legal representation, and believes he can win the case, but that his defence will cost $9,000 to $15,000.
He has started a GiveSendGo to help cover his costs, where he also asks for prayers.
“While I am uncertain about the full costs involved in this case, I want to make it clear that I want your prayers more than your money,” Mr Wood wrote on the fundraiser.
“However, if you feel moved to offer financial support, your help would be deeply appreciated and a true blessing.”
