Ceasefire activist arrested on 16 felony charges after threatening to murder Bakersfield city council members

Riddhi S. Patel, 28, is being held in jail on a $1 million bail and has been booked on 16 felony charges that include eight counts of intent to terrorize and eight counts of threatening state officials, per CBS 6.

Patel issued the threats during a city council meeting on Wednesday when the general public was allowed to comment.

She began her speech by imploring city council members to pass a ceasefire resolution but expressed doubt that they would.

"I don't have faith that you'll do this," said Patel. "You guys are all horrible human beings, and Jesus probably would've killed you himself."

Patel added, "I understand that you are all horrible people...And while you guys parade Gandhi around, as a Hindu holiday called Chaitra Navratri starts off this week, I remind you that these holidays we practice, that other people in the Global South practice, believe in violent revolution against their oppressors."

"I hope one day somebody brings the guillotine and kills all you motherf*ckers," she said.

Patel walked back to her seat without incident and was not arrested at this time, despite the guillotine threat.

However, Patel went back to the podium and threatened to murder city council members when commenting on the council's recently passed resolution to establish security measures in public buildings, such as metal detectors.

"Regardless of whether you elect people into office, they'll backstab you," said Patel. "They'll let you die. And for that reason, you guys want to criminalize us with metal detectors, we'll see you at your house. We'll murder you."

Police officers arrested Patel and took her into custody shortly after she issued the threats.

Riddhi Patel works as an economic development coordinator at the Center on Race, Poverty, and the Environment (CRPE). She graduated with a bachelor's degree from St. Louis University in 2017. In 2019, Patel volunteered for the Bernie Sanders campaign in Bakersfield, according to her work bio.

Patel is set to appear in court on Friday.