Democrat Governor Katie Hobbs (D-AZ) has received widespread backlash after her press secretary suggested that "transphobes" should be shot in the wake of the Nashville school shooting.
Less than twelve hours after a trans person shot and killed three children and three school staff at The Covenant Christian School on Monday, Josselyn Berry tweeted “Us when we see transphobes," with an image of a woman pointing two loaded handguns at someone.
The Arizona Freedom Caucus called out the tweet immediately.
Less than 12 hours after the tragic shooting in Nashville by a deranged transgender activist @katiehobbs’ Press Secretary calls for shooting people Democrats disagree with.
Calling for violence like this is un-American & never acceptable.
@joss_berry should be fired immediately
Hobbs’ 2022 gubernatorial opponent, Kari Lake, responded:
If a conservative made light of a mass shooting & called for more violence, they’d be personally & professionally destroyed.
But a member of Katie Hobbs’ staff did just that & the media is silent.
We don't partake in cancel culture - but the media’s bias has never been clearer.
Daniel Scarpinato, chief of staff for former Arizona governor Doug Ducey said to the Arizona Republic that Berry’s tweet was “below the dignity of the office of the governor.”
"I don't think anyone, no matter your political leanings, would look at that tweet — any sane, professional person would look at that tweet and say, 'This is how I want one of the top advisers to the governor of my state to conduct themselves,'" said Scarpinato.
Berry resigned shortly after the tweet that could be understood to both incite and excuse deadly violence.
Hobbs’ office is not alone in excusing and violence, however, according to Republicans.
Sen. Josh Hawley (R-MO) tweeted:
Christians targeted for hate crimes - in America - and Biden laughs.
President Biden was asked on Tuesday if he believes that Christians were targeted in the Nashville school shooting. He replied,”I have no idea.” A reporter added, “Josh Hawley believes they were,” to which Biden replied, “Well, I probably don’t then,” and laughed.
On Friday, the Biden administration posted on Twitter:
On Transgender Day of Visibility, we want you to know that we see you just as you are:
Made in the image of God and deserving of dignity, respect, and support.
We'll never stop working to create a world where you won't have to be brave just to be yourself.
While liberal activists are posting now about a about a “Transgender Day of Visibility,” they were promoting a “Trans Day of Vengeance” in the days before the shooting. After Nashville, Twitter began removing the posts on the basis that they are inciting violence.
A large Trans Day of Vengeance protest was scheduled for April 1st in Washington, D.C., along with firearms training, and was promoted as early as March 17.
Activists with the Trans Radical Activist Network (TRAN) began promoting a "Day of Vengeance" in Tennessee a week before the shooting, retweeting a suggestion that the protest be held “outside the Daily Wire HQ," which is in Nashville.
The TRAN Twitter account has since been made private.
