Keystone United Defends Its Actions While Pittsburgh-Area Bar Defends Against Their Attacks

More developments from the latest in Keystone United assault cases.

AVALON, PA – While the White Supremacist Keystone United publishes a statement stemming from the July 7 assault on a Black man at a local bar that led to some of its members being arrested saying that they are being accused of something they aren’t about because of who they are, the bar says they are being targeted by the group and its supporters in the wake of the incident.

The Jackman Bar posted a new sign on their front door that reads, “No colors or patches permitted. Your intolerance will not be tolerated.” This was in response to at least six associates of Keystone United getting into a altercation with a patron Paul Morris, a Black man, when he walked into a backroom where some of them were playing pool, some allegedly using a racial epithet against the victim. The six have been charged with simple assault – a misdemeanor that carries a 2-year maximum sentence, ethnic intimidation, conspiracy for simple assault, and a conspiracy for ethnic intimidation, which is the term the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania uses for hate crimes.

Keystone United’s statement, which can be found on the group’s website, states that Morris was a regular at the bar and could easily find support where the members could not, also stating that their story has not been heard and that the group would not attack anyone because of their race. “Unfortunately, we can not go into too much detail due to legal issues, but Keystone United is standing behind our members who are being charged with these ridiculous charges. Our members did exactly what any other person would do – they defended themselves and each other.” Travis Cornell, one of those arrested, told One People’s Project that they had been there for an hour with no issues and similarly feels they are being targeted unfairly. “We’re not all innocent in this situation,” he said. “For them to paint a picture of us one way isn’t very fair because we’ve been in this bar previously with club shirts on with no altercation.”

Workers at the Jackman Bar however notes that an associate of Keystone United, one who was not arrested, lives directly behind the bar and was holding a BBQ where their fellow club members participated and later went to the bar, which is when the incident occurred. They say that since then Keystone United supporters have reportedly been harassing the bar and one of its employees on their respective Facebook pages and calling the health department on them.

The first preliminary hearings will take place on Aug. 30 before Magisterial District Judge Tara Smith at the Allegheny County Courthouse in Pittsburgh.