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Home – Crime News – Protester on Trial for Pepper-Spraying Police at ‘Fascist’ Heritage Foundation Makes His Defense in Court

Protester on Trial for Pepper-Spraying Police at ‘Fascist’ Heritage Foundation Makes His Defense in Court

Joseph Buff | Andrew Phelan

Nathaniel Wetter Taylor, the protester who allegedly pepper-sprayed two special police officers outside of the Heritage Foundation last year, delivered his own opening statement before a jury Thursday, attacking Heritage as “fascist” and claiming that the officers violated his rights.

Appearing in the D.C. Superior Court, Taylor told the jury that his actions were a “simple case of freedom of speech and protecting yourself.” 

Taylor held a solo protest at the Heritage Foundation on June 11, 2025. He walked up to the Heritage Foundation’s front doors holding a sign and a recording smartphone.  

When two special police officers, who are licensed to protect and make arrests on Heritage property, attempted to remove Taylor from the property, he pepper-sprayed one of them in the eyes and the other in the mouth, according to security video footage of the incident.  

He was later arrested and charged with two misdemeanor counts of assaulting a police officer.  

Taylor’s trial began on Thursday, and he chose to represent himself and deliver his own opening statement before a 12-person jury.  

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