Six years after a confrontation that became a defining image of 2020, Mark and Patricia McCloskey are speaking out about the ongoing legal and political fallout from the incident. The couple emerged from their St. Louis home armed with firearms as Black Lives Matter demonstrators passed through their private street on June 28, 2020, en route to the then-mayor's residence.
Images of Mark McCloskey with an AR-15-style rifle and Patricia McCloskey with a handgun quickly spread, turning the event into a flashpoint in national debates about self-defense, property rights, and public protest. Supporters viewed the couple as homeowners protecting their property during a period of widespread unrest, while critics argued they escalated the situation by brandishing weapons.
Mark McCloskey recently shared that his AR-15-style rifle was returned to him in 2025 after what he described as a protracted legal battle involving three lawsuits and multiple trips to the Missouri Court of Appeals, totaling 1,847 days. "It only took three lawsuits, two trips to the Court of Appeals and 1,847 days, but I got my AR15 back!" he stated on social media. He also noted that his pistol was returned approximately 60 days later. The prolonged legal process, he said, took a significant toll on their law practice, with their business reportedly suffering and online searches for their law center indicating it was "permanently closed" for an extended period.
Legal and Political Ramifications
At the time, St. Louis Circuit Attorney Kim Gardner charged the McCloskeys with unlawful use of a weapon. Then-Missouri Attorney General Eric Schmitt intervened, arguing the case raised questions about Missourians' rights to self-defense and property. Schmitt, now a U.S. Senator, characterized the prosecution as an instance of "activist prosecutors like Kim Gardner choos[ing] to go after law-abiding citizens like the McCloskeys—not the looters and criminals destroying our cities."
In 2021, the McCloskeys pleaded guilty to misdemeanor offenses. Shortly thereafter, then-Missouri Governor Mike Parson pardoned them. A subsequent ruling by a Missouri appeals court affirmed the expungement of their convictions, which, under state law, means the convictions are treated as if they never occurred.
Al Watkins, who represented the McCloskeys early in the controversy, stated that a common misconception is that the protest itself precipitated the confrontation. He asserted that the "precipitating event was not the protest" but rather a directive for law enforcement to be "hands off" toward protesters, regardless of their actions. Watkins advised lawyers and prosecutors facing intense public pressure to "ignore political pressure," noting that the McCloskeys were unfairly labeled as racially motivated.
Shifting Public Roles
The 2020 incident significantly altered Mark McCloskey's public profile. In the years following, he became more involved in conservative politics, speaking at the 2020 Republican National Convention and launching a U.S. Senate bid in Missouri in 2022. He has also represented defendants charged in connection with the January 6, 2021, Capitol riot and advocated for compensation for those prosecuted in relation to the attack. McCloskey briefly paused his work on Jan. 6 cases due to a serious medical diagnosis, describing it as an "incurable, always-fatal disease," but has since returned after the Justice Department announced plans for an "Anti-Weaponization Fund."
Despite their subsequent political engagement, the McCloskeys remain primarily associated with the 2020 confrontation. Mark McCloskey stated that the experience provided them with a platform they would not otherwise have had, allowing them to speak nationally on constitutional rights, including the First and Second Amendments. While acknowledging ongoing threats and hate mail, the couple remains committed to discussing the constitutional issues they believe the case represents. Watkins expressed hope that the couple can move past the controversy and "live out their lives without again being demonized, victimized or prosecuted for protecting their American dream."