After receiving massive blowback and criticism for proclaiming that disgraced FBI agent Peter Strzok deserves a purple heart, Congressman Steve Cohen, a Democrat who represents Tennessee’s 9th Congressional District, has decided to block Veterans who are responding to his ignorant remarks on Twitter.

During Strzok’s Congressional testimony on Thursday, Rep. Cohen sparked outrage when he told disgraced FBI agent Peter Strzok that he should be awarded a Purple Heart.

“If I could give you a Purple Heart, I would. You deserve one. This has been an attack on you, in a way to attack Mr. Mueller, in the investigation that is to get at Russia collusion involved in our election,” Rep. Cohen said.
Cohen’s belief that Strzok deserves a Purple Heart, one of the highest military decorations that is awarded in the name of the US president to members of the military who are wounded or killed in any action against an enemy of the United States, quickly sparked outrage online by people who knew better than to make such a disrespectful and insulting comparison.

After receiving a lot of backlash the day following the testimony, Cohen said he now regrets what he said. “I regret using the term ‘Purple Heart.’ I used it metaphorically, not literally. I never thought literally it should be given to Agent Strzok.”

Instead of apologizing to Veterans who fought and risked their lives for our country, Rep. Cohen is using the block feature on Twitter so that Veterans and other critics can’t respond to Rep. Cohen.

Rep. Cohen has blocked so many veterans that a Twitter user created a Twitter page for all of the people, mostly veterans, who have been blacked by Cohen.

Hundreds of users took to Twitter on Saturday morning to explain why they are blocked by Rep. Cohen with the hashtag #HeBlockedMeToo.

CALLING ALL VETERANS….

If Steve Cohen blocked you, please reply with #HeBlockedMeToo

Thank you, and in the meantime, support his opponent, @ElectBergmann . pic.twitter.com/AMbVKirw8E

— time2trade (@time2trade2) July 14, 2018

 

“I wish my four surgeries to rebuild me were metaphoric. You owe us an apology, not a clarification of the words you used,” one U.S. Veteran tweeted.

I wish my four surgeries to rebuild me were metaphoric. You owe us an apology, not a clarification of the words you used. pic.twitter.com/lPYlf1W44l

— Ƀɨǥ Đɐƌƌɏ ϻīͼĸ (@MarcusBrutus_) July 13, 2018

One user tweeted, “I told him the story of how my uncle got his Purple Heart in Vietnam & died from Agent Orange. Told him he owed Veterans a very public apology. He blocked me.”

I told him the story of how my uncle got his Purple Heart in Vietnam & died from Agent Orange. Told him he owed Veterans a very public apology.

He blocked me. pic.twitter.com/RvpwdkWjZI

— Stephanie (@real_Stephanie) July 15, 2018

Despite these heartfelt messages from twitter users whose family members received the Purple Heart and veterans who were wounded in war, Rep. Cohen has continued to block people, blocking
Generals, Colonels, members of Congress and wounded Veterans.

Member of Congress, Rep. Cohen, has blocked me, an Army veteran, for criticizing his deeply disturbing statement that Peter Strzok deserves a Purple Heart because he has sat through a tough congressional hearing. pic.twitter.com/gPAtsjOxRe

— Mark Footerman (@MarkFooterman) July 12, 2018

US Army veteran Mark Footerman, who is also a fellow for Hill Vets, an organization that encourages veterans to create global impact tweeted, “Member of Congress, Rep. Cohen, has blocked me, an Army veteran, for criticizing his deeply disturbing statement that Peter Strzok deserves a Purple Heart because he has sat through a tough congressional hearing.”

A female combat veteran tweeted, “I was blocked but @RepCohen is a coward…this female Marine Veteran will call TN Rep Steve Cohen a coward all day @RepCohen is a coward #RepCohenIsACowardlyDemrat Democrats can’t handle the truth.”

I was blocked but @RepCohen is a coward…this female Marine Veteran will call TN Rep Steve Cohen a coward all day @RepCohen is a coward#RepCohenIsACowardlyDemrat
Demrats can't handle the truth pic.twitter.com/JU7PQ1j79T

— Kimmie🇺🇸 (@ksandjc02) July 14, 2018

James T, A US Air Force Veteran tweeted, “Funny, I just checked and I’m blocked too and I’ve never tweeted about him or to him. Maybe he blocks all veterans. What an ass.”

Funny, I just checked and I’m blocked too and I’ve never tweeted about him or to him. Maybe he blocks all veterans. What an ass.

— James T (@Audioear) July 14, 2018

A wounded combat veteran tweeted, “This is what happens when a wounded vet stands up to a Congressman who wants to give a Purple Heart to lying, narcissistic cheater. Apparently, he [Rep.Cohen] hates Veterans.”

This is what happens when a wounded vet stands up to a Congressman who wants to give a Purple Heart to lying, narcissistic cheater. Apparently, he hates Veterans. pic.twitter.com/mVZSNvo4Ze

— JR🚂 (@jMOTOrist) July 13, 2018

One user who said they only created Twitter so that they could reply to Cohen’s outrageous comments said they were immediately blocked by the Congressman. “I joined Twitter so that my voice would get through to @RepCohen. Looks like it did. He blocked me 1 hour and 30 min after I created my Twitter account.”

I joined Twitter so that my voice would get through to @RepCohen. Looks like it did. He blocked me 1 hour and 30 min after I created my Twitter account.

— Allen Michael (@AIIenMichaeI11) July 14, 2018

Cohen’s belief that Strzok deserves a Purple Heart, one of the highest military decorations that is awarded in the name of the US president to members of the military who are wounded or killed in any action against an enemy of the United States, quickly sparked outrage online by people who knew better than to make such a disrespectful and insulting comparison.

Not only was Rep. Cohen’s statement a slap in the face to all service men and women who have fought and served for the United States, but his intentional blocking of Veterans suggests that he has no respect or consideration for US veterans. On top of being anti-Veteran, anti-American, and anti-free speech, Rep. Cohen’s actions may have him in direct violation of the law. In May, a federal district court judge ruled that President Trump can’t block people from following his Twitter account. According to the judge, elected officials who block tweets with differing opinions constitutes viewpoint discrimination, which violates the First Amendment.

Thus, if President Trump cannot block twitter users who have opposing views, neither can Rep. Cohen, who is also an elected US politician.

Rep. Cohen’s office did not reply with a request for comment as to why the Democrat Congressman is intentionally blocking US veterans and Conservatives on Twitter.

Here is a collection of tweets from other US veterans and twitter users who also took to social media to ask why they had been blocked by Rep.Cohen.

So @realDonaldTrump can't block people as a public figure and politician, but ole @repcohen can block me for calling for him to resign from Congress for insulting veterans & Purple Heart recipients due to his saying that lying FBI agent Peter Strzok deserved one – doubt standard pic.twitter.com/mEI3XkEXhV

— Tony Shaffer (@T_S_P_O_O_K_Y) July 14, 2018

Please add Purple Heart familes, my father served in the Army stationed in Philippines fought the Japanese shot in the leg, when tweeted this to Cohen #HeBlockedMeToo pic.twitter.com/PkA6yyxHHV

— Jo May (@JoGaryBuddyMay) July 14, 2018

Now here’s a badge of honor worth sharing. After Rep Cohen lionized Strzok (both shameless cowards), I simply pointed out that Purple Hearts are for military men and women wounded/killed by enemy fire. So much for being open to feedback! #Strzok #strzoktestimony #blocked pic.twitter.com/wNW6du5cba

— Anthony J. Tata (@ajtata) July 13, 2018

Wow! Never even viewed or commented on his Twitter acct. (Cohen). I’m honored to be blocked by such distinguished libtard! pic.twitter.com/ZcDFoMxnF6

— jgormansr (@jgormansr) July 14, 2018

I tried to tweet him about his Purple Heart comment. I was blocked too. Hadn’t ever connected before. Somehow getting names. My family served in military from WWI through every engagement. We’ve bled, fought, and suffered to protect this nation. Cohen has no love 4 America.

— Rochelle (@MightyMouth88) July 14, 2018

I'm blocked , my son served 5 yrs in USMC 1 tour in Afghanistan

— Denise Smith America First (@Denisesmith3812) July 15, 2018