On white nationalist program, Mark Lamb defends man who shot Ralph Yarl: “He was trying to protect his property … now he's being persecuted"

Written by Eric Hananoki

Published

U.S. Senate candidate and Republican sheriff Mark Lamb went on the program of white nationalist Stew Peters, where he defended the recent shooting of Ralph Yarl. Lamb told Peters that the shooting was “tragic” and shooter Andrew Lester “was trying to protect his property, stand his ground” and ”now he's being persecuted.” 

Media Matters has repeatedly documented that Lamb has attempted to build his political profile by appearing on fringe outlets, including QAnon programs and an antisemitic network. 

Peters is a streaming host who has repeatedly advocated for violence against his perceived enemies. He is a white nationalist who has told his audience that “Blacks commit the most violent crimes. PERIOD” and claimed that Black people are prone to criminality in part because of a “genetic” predisposition. He also has a history of making antisemitic remarks, demonizing LGBTQ people, and pushing fringe conspiracy theories, including about school shootings. 

He discussed the shooting of Yarl on his April 21 program with Lamb. The Republican sheriff said that “sometimes things are just tragic accidents” but then defended the alleged actions of Lester, stating: “My heart goes out to him as well. He was trying to protect his property, stand his ground. You know, he felt that his life was in danger. He took some action and now he's being persecuted.” 

From the April 21, 2023, edition of The Stew Peters Show

STEW PETERS (HOST): The media has fueled this, obviously, as a racist event with zero evidence of that at all whatsoever. Is this something that we should just get used to seeing in this country? 

MARK LAMB: Yeah, I was going to be sarcastic and say, “Well, what? You know, the media’s fueling something?” Look, you know, there are things that are accidents. I've been doing, in this profession a long time, and sometimes things are just tragic accidents. This is tragic. My heart goes out to that, that kid who's at the wrong house, you know. But this, my heart goes out to him as well. He was trying to protect his property, stand his ground. You know, he felt that his life was in danger. He took some action and now he's being persecuted. And it's an unfortunate situation that's being made worse, like you said, by the media and by a lot of pundits, when we should be trying to come to the aid of both people.  

During the appearance, Lamb also asked Peters’ audience to go to his website to contribute to his campaign.

Numerous other Arizona Republicans have appeared on Peters’ show, including Rep. Paul Gosar, state chair Kelli Ward, and Kari Lake, who may end up running against Lamb in the primary.