Union president responds to accusations he ‘physically attacked’ COD board member; says ‘entire scenario was staged.’
Joe Duffle, president of the United Food and Commercial Workers Union Local 1167, is responding to allegations he attacked Former College of the Desert President and current COD Board member Joel Kinnamon, Ed.D., at a political gathering over the weekend, telling News Channel 3 the accusations are "false and a gross misrepresentation of the facts." Duffle claims the incident was "staged."
Duffle tells News Channel 3, "I met Mr. Kinnamon for the first time on Saturday, January 27, 2024, when he dug his finger into my chest, got close to my face and threatened me, saying, 'I am going to take you and your boys out.' One cannot provocatively put hands on a union official and threaten to 'take him out' without expecting some sort of response. My response was minimal, there was no violence, and I simply pushed him away."
Duffle, responding Monday with a written statement, is disputing the account of Kinnamon, who tells News Channel 3 he was attacked by Duffle. Kinnamon's account shared with News Channel 3 reads that "UFCW President Joe Duffle, physically attacked and threatened me" during a meeting.
Kinnamon said the confrontation came in response to a question Kinnamon had asked.
"I was invited to speak on a panel regarding issues critical to the members of UFCW Local 1167. It now appears I was the target of a political agenda by a fringe group that disagrees with Labor’s endorsed candidates.
UFCW Local 1167 President Joe Duffle
It also appears I was targeted due to my relationship with College of the Desert Trustee Bea Gonzales, who has been a childhood friend and a fierce advocate for young people in our community.
I met Mr. Kinnamon for the first time on Saturday, January 27, 2024, when he dug his finger into my chest, got close to my face and threatened me, saying, “I am going to take you and your boys out.”
One cannot provocatively put hands on a union official and threaten to "take him out" without expecting some sort of response. My response was minimal, there was no violence, and I simply pushed him away. The accusation that I reacted in the least bit violently is absolutely false and a gross misrepresentation of the facts. What’s more, the entire scenario was staged.
I have spent more than four decades standing up for working people and improving the quality of life for workers and their families in the communities I represent, and I will continue to do so even in a hostile environment.”
In an emailed statement, Kinnamon shared more details, writing, "In a split second, Mr. Duffle’s rage escalated towards me. I soon suffered a series of violent acts including being forcibly shoved backwards onto a folding table, hit with closed fists to my chest, and multiple verbal threats that he 'would take me out.' At no time did I initiate physical contact towards Mr. Duffle even during the attack on me."
“Yesterday, an unfortunate incident occurred during a local political organization’s monthly meeting when its guest speaker, UFCW President Joe Duffle, physically attacked and threatened me. Joe Duffle accused a former college trustee, in a hostile manner, that I asked an endorsement question on her behalf. I stepped in to inform him that she had nothing to do with my question. In a split second, Mr. Duffle’s rage escalated towards me. I soon suffered a series of violent acts including being forcibly shoved backwards onto a folding table, hit with closed fists to my chest, and multiple verbal threats that he “would take me out.” At no time did I initiate physical contact towards Mr. Duffle even during the attack on me. Too often, in these political times, we have seen election officials and elected officials being threatened with violence or suffering from the acts of violence, I just never thought it would happen to me. Violence is never the answer.”
Joel L. Kinnamon, Ed.D., Superintendent/President Emeritus, College of the Desert
Kinnamon's spokesperson said he was unavailable for an in-person interview about the incident. News Channel 3 has reached out to the Riverside County Sheriff's Department but has not confirmed an investigation into Duffle or any pending charges against him.
The Riverside County Sheriff's Office shared with our newsroom that on Saturday, January 27 at 3:45 p.m. deputies were dispatched to the area of Fred Waring Drive and Monterey Avenue regarding a battery. The Palm Desert Branch Library where the alleged incident took place is located between those two streets. The department says this is an ongoing investigation and can not confirm those involved.
According to its website, the United Food and Commercial Workers Union Local 1167 serves San Bernardino, Riverside, and Imperial Counties.
A News Channel 3 reporter did speak with two witnesses of the incident, who said it happened after the Democrats of the Desert meeting at the Palm Desert Library Saturday. A Facebook post advertising the event featured Duffle as a key speaker.
"It was just awful. Awful and shocking to see," said Ginny Foat, a former Palm Springs City Council member. Foat had attended the meeting earlier and was on her way out the door when she says yelling broke out.
"The meeting had ended a few minutes ago and I was about to leave when I heard a scream," Foat recalled. She tells us the yelling was coming from Joe Duffle, the UFCW Local 1167 President.
"There was a few dozen of us left in the room and we all turned around and saw Joe Duffle pushing and punching Joel," Foat explained. "He was punching him, really punching him. He hit him so hard that Joel fell back onto a table," said Foat. She also said that Joel Kinnamon, former Superintendent and President of College of the Desert, didn't resist. Kinnamon currently serves as a board member on the Board of Trustees for COD.
"A lot of us started screaming and asking Joe to stop," said Foat. She says Duffle didn't stop until someone threatened to call 9-1-1.
"After that, he abruptly stopped and rushed out of the room. He was angry, and yelling profanities out the door," said Foat. That's when she walked over to Kinnamon to see if he was okay. She tells News Channel 3 that Kinnamon was dazed, and struggled to stand back up on his own. She also said she recommended he get medical help, but recalls he refused.
News Channel 3 is continuing to work to learn more about the incident.
