A newly appointed member of the Knox County Board of Zoning Appeals is accused of punching a man who was protesting an event hosted by Heritage Hubs, a far-right nonprofit seeking to build "conservative infrastructure" in Knoxville, according to the Knoxville Police Department.
Heritage Hubs is affiliated with the Tennessee Heritage Association, a "single-issue advocacy group determined to end and reverse mass migration," its website says. "We support policies that put Americans first and politicians that fight for Americans only."
Republican South Knox County Commissioner Andy Fox, who spoke at the Oct. 10 event, supported Alex Moody's appointment to the board of zoning appeals. Moody represents Fox's district.
Other panelists at the event were
Greg Bovino, the former U.S. Customs and Boarder Patrol "commander at large," former Tennessee Sen. Stacey Campfield, podcaster C. Jay Engel, Tennessee Rep. Monty Fritts, former U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement chief of staff Jason Killmeyer and former Heritage Foundation chief of staff Ryan Neuhaus.
Republican Knox County Commissioner Justin Cofer also attended the event, Democratic Knox County Commissioner Brandon Huckaby told Knox News.
Protester William Wilson told Knox News that Moody appeared to be working the door. Wilson said he went to talk to the event security guards and Moody came out of nowhere.
"Somebody just came out from inside. No warning, no anything. He knocked my phone out of my hand. He hit me twice. No warning, no nothing," said Wilson, who had a cut on his face when he spoke to Knox News.
Moody was cited with misdemeanor assault, Knoxville Police Department spokesperson Scott Erland said.
Moody could not be reached at the time of publication.
Allie Feinberg is the politics reporter for Knox News. Email: allie.feinberg@knoxnews.com; Reddit: u/KnoxNewsAllie
This article originally appeared on Knoxville News Sentinel: Knox zoning official accused of punching protester at far-right event
