Derrick Evans (politician)

Evans worked as a high school teacher and football coach in Wayne County, coaching football at Tolsia High School from 2013 to 2017.[5] In January 2017, he was hired to be an assistant quarterback coach for the Virginia Tech Hokies football team.[6]

Before pursuing elected office, Evans was known as a confrontational local anti-abortion protester who, over the course of 2018 and 2019, harassed patients, staff, and volunteer escorts at the only clinic in West Virginia that performed abortions.[7] Evans would livestream himself confronting people outside the clinic to tens of thousands of viewers.[7] In addition to shouting abuse, Evans would livestream himself repeating clinic workers' names over and over and screaming their personal details.[7] His activities prompted the clinic to put up a 10-foot high fence and alert police.[7] Evans' harassment led a woman to file for and receive a restraining order over "alleged stalking and repeated threats of bodily injury"; Evans subsequently violated the order.[8]

Evans also frequently appeared at the West Virginia State Capitol, where he took photographs and videos of state legislators. Democratic State Delegate Danielle Walker said that Evans referred to her as "satanic" and equated her support for LGBTQ rights to defending pedophilia.[7]

Evans represented the 19th district from his hometown of Prichard, West Virginia.[4] He assumed office on December 1, 2020.

Evans was embroiled in controversy during his campaign stemming from his membership in a Facebook group chat in which homophobic and Islamophobic language was used. Fellow Delegate John Mandt, an alleged participant in the group chat, claimed that the messages attributed to him were fabricated but nonetheless announced his resignation. Evans not only confirmed his own participation in the group chat, but said that he stood by his comments calling Nihad Awad a "terrorist."[9]

Evans participated in the storming of the United States Capitol on January 6, 2021. Social media posts by Evans depict him traveling to Washington, D.C., with a busload of fellow Donald Trump supporters, none of whom were wearing face masks during the COVID-19 pandemic.[10]

Evans had been telling his 30,000 Facebook followers to “Fight For Trump” in D.C. and at the rally posted a video in which he said, “If Pence betrays us you better get your mind right because we’re storming that building,” laughingly adding “I’m just the messenger, so don’t be hating on me.”[11][12][13][14] Associated Press notes that in a video of Evans as he was attempting to breach the Capitol, he also could be heard chanting Trump's name repeatedly.[10] Evans subsequently denied involvement in any destruction of property that took place during the riot, claiming that he was "simply there as an independent member of the media to film history."[15]

Evans crossed the downed fence and entered the Capitol building filming himself inside shouting "We're in, we're in. Derrick Evans is in the Capitol!" Telling the crowd, “We’re in! Keep it moving, baby!” And later “Our house!” Inside the Capitol halls he said, “I don’t know where we’re going. I’m following the crowd.”[16] [13]

His actions were condemned by West Virginia's state House Speaker Roger Hanshaw, state House Minority Leader Doug Skaff, U.S. Senator Joe Manchin, and Governor Jim Justice.[13][15]

Two days later, Evans was arrested[2] and charged with two federal offenses: "one count of knowingly entering or remaining in any restricted building or grounds without lawful authority; and one count of violent entry and disorderly conduct on Capitol Grounds."[17][18][19] The charges are misdemeanors, though he could face over a year in jail.[18]

Evans submitted a letter of resignation to the governor of West Virginia on January 10th apologizing and saying, “I take full responsibility for my actions.”[20][21]