Kenneth Bonawitz

Coach went to the January 6th event to help the Trump supporters he traveled with, including some elderly patriots, stay safe. He, like many Americans, witnessed television coverage of Antifa, BLM, and other violent groups targeting Trump supporters and conservatives at prior events. He wanted to be a human shield against these leftist aggressors.  He felt, as many did that day and the time leading up to January 6^th, that they were upholding and honoring the constitution.  After President Trump’s speech ended, Kenneth walked with others to the Capitol.  They couldn’t stay long because their bus would be heading back to Florida soon.  As they approached the Capital, Kenneth and others were antagonized by anti-Trump protesters.  In hind sight, Coach believes they were there, perhaps even paid, just to rile up the crowd.  Clearly, they did their job, because at one point Coach grabbed an anti-Trump protester’s sign and ripped it up.

“I take responsibility for what I did,” Coach said later.  It’s something he genuinely means despite the fact that he, like others there that day, were provoked. Once Kenneth and his friends reached the Capital, chaos was unfolding. News spread through the crowd that one of their own have been pushed off the balcony.  Rubber bullets were flying and flash bangs were starting to be throw into the crowd along with tear gas.  After witnessing police get overly aggressive with fellow protesters, Coach got into a shoving match with police.  He walked away and left to make sure he caught his ride home.  He was at the front line for less than 2 minutes. When he and his friends returned to the bus, there were two Antifa-type protesters harassing some of the elderly people in their group.  Coach stepped in to protect them. It was a frightening situation for those he helped, yet he was able to get everyone on the bus and home safely.

Coach was arrested at his home months later when several pieces of video footage identified him.  During the trial, he plead not guilty to six counts of assaulting police officers.  At the sentencing phase, his lawyers tried persuade the judge to give Kenneth a lesser sentence because he was contrite and took “acceptance of responsibility,” for his actions. This is common with first time offenders but federal Judge Cobb refused.  In January of 2024, Kenneth ‘Coach’ Bonawitz was then handed a 5-year sentence on 6 charges of assaulting police officers. As of Christmas 2023, he’s been stalled in the D.C. Gulag awaiting his final placement. 

He hopes and prays it will be closer to home so his friends and family can easily visit.  Despite everything he has been through, Coach is optimistic about what the future holds when he’s released.  Of course, the hardest part will be what faces most of these political prisoners, starting from scratch.   He will, with the love and help of his family, have a job waiting for him.  However, his home and his belongings are gone due to his incarceration and the massive legal bills.  Feel free to send Coach birthday greetings and letters of encouragement: his birthday is September 14^th.