Madison Cawthorn, Other Republicans, To Join Event With Extremist Pastor Who Threatened Mask-Wearers

Pastor Greg Locke no longer has a Twitter account. He was kicked off after repeated warnings for spreading disinformation about COVID-19. Now he’s appearing as a speaker at the North Carolina Faith & Freedom Salt & Light Conference — alongside Republican politicians including Madison Cawthorn, former governor Pat McCrory (R-NC), and others.

Right Wing Watch put out the alert Tuesday afternoon, letting the public know that Locke will appear at the event alongside North Carolina Republican legislators and candidates, as well as other right-wing influencers such as former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee, and former Arizona Sheriff Joe Arpaio.

Reps. Ted Budd and Madison Cawthorn, several North Carolina state legislators, and various candidates for office are scheduled to appear at an upcoming conference with unhinged right-wing pastor Greg Locke. https://t.co/tBUJZzUHUa pic.twitter.com/3S9DCZbpVm

— Right Wing Watch (@RightWingWatch) September 21, 2021

It was Locke’s COVID-19 conspiracy theories and disinformation that eventually got him banned from the platform, according to Newsweek. In a video on his Facebook page, Locke admits getting warning after warning over spreading COVID-19 disinformation, and says he was “finally” banned permanently.

However, it also came shortly after a screenshot began circulating from early August, in which Locke boasts that his church is mask-free because he chooses “faith over fear,” someone else responds to ask if it’s a gun-free campus for the same reason, and Locke responds with an apparent threat.

“Show up acting stupid and find out,” Locke tweeted back.

These tweets are still visible at an archived copy here.

Now he’ll be one of the honored guests and featured speakers at North Carolina’s Faith & Freedom event, alongside actor Kevin Sorbo, Republican Representative Madison Cawthorn, State Senator Phil Berger, and others.

It’s hardly Locke’s first round with anti-mask or threatening sentiments though — he’s said in his sermons that he’d like to get Proud Boys to work security at his church, and that no one wearing a mask will be allowed in.