State Trooper Assaults Journalist Outside Mississippi Governor’s Mansion in Viral Standoff

JACKSON, MS- On the eve of Independence Day, a shocking display of First Amendment suppression unfolded outside the Mississippi Governor’s Mansion. Independent journalist and constitutional rights activist Matthew Reardon, widely known by his alias Don Matthews, was physically assaulted, threatened with arrest, and aggressively chased off a public sidewalk by a Mississippi State Trooper while live-streaming a peaceful protest on July 3rd, 2025.

The protest, coined “National Fuck the Governor Day,” was aimed at calling out Governor Tate Reeves for his controversial signing of several new laws, including one that imposes a $25-per-day permit fee on homeless individuals for panhandling—a move Reardon and many constitutional scholars have condemned as a direct violation of First Amendment protections.

“Panhandling has been ruled protected speech by the U.S. Supreme Court,” Reardon said during the livestream. “But this governor wants to criminalize poverty.”

Caught on Camera: The Assault

During the livestream, which drew nearly 74,000 live viewers, a uniformed state trooper can be seen storming out from the mansion gates, screaming at Reardon to leave, despite Reardon standing on a clearly public sidewalk. When Reardon refused to move—invoking his constitutional rights—the officer charged at him, knocked his phone off its gimbal, and stepped on it, according to video evidence.

“Do you know what the First Amendment is?” Reardon shouted.

“I don’t give a fuck about the First Amendment,” the trooper yelled, which was captured on video.

Moments later, Reardon demanded the officer’s name and badge number, calling for a supervisor while continuing to film. The footage shows escalating aggression, including verbal threats, state troopers running Reardon’s license plate, and one officer reportedly whispering through a window, “We got your tag.”

A Chilling Pattern of Retaliation

Reardon’s protest was more than symbolic. He alleges that Governor Reeves personally signed off on fraudulent extradition paperwork that led to his illegal transfer from Texas to Mississippi in 2024, costing him nearly a year of freedom. The documents, according to Reardon, cited fictitious case numbers and fake drug charges he was never accused of.

“They said I was a fugitive from Mississippi at the same time I was being arrested in Galveston, Texas,” Reardon explained. “It’s a legal impossibility—and they knew it.”

Adding fuel to the fire, the documentation used to justify his extradition was “certified” under Mississippi law using bogus annex papers, allegedly rubber-stamped by both Governor Reeves and Secretary of State Michael Watson.

Demand for Accountability

After the assault, Reardon demanded to file an on-site complaint. When the supervisor arrived, however, the response was chillingly familiar: “We’ll handle it internally.”

“That’s code for ‘Nothing will happen,’” Reardon stated. “This is exactly why people are losing trust in the justice system. These officers violate rights, and then they close ranks and protect each other.”

Multiple civil rights organizations have since expressed interest in the case. Reardon is expected to file a federal civil rights lawsuit under 42 U.S.C. § 1983 and has already called for a Department of Justice “pattern and practice” investigation into both the Mississippi Highway Patrol and the Office of the Governor.

A Warning for All Americans

The confrontation outside the Governor’s Mansion wasn’t just about one man’s grievance. It’s a microcosm of a broader, darker truth: when power is unchecked and unaccountable, tyranny doesn’t knock—it kicks down the door.

“This wasn’t about trespassing. It was about silencing a dissident voice with a camera and a sign,” said Reardon. “And I will not be silenced.”