OF THE
TIMES
Author's note: The below is the Op-Ed that was accepted to USAToday on June 24. They deleted key phrases/paragraphs for their print paper and then they refused to print it at all online.It is clear to me as a physician-lawyer that the disinformation about both Covid-19 and the Constitution has caused us to turn a medical issue into a legal crisis.
Del. Kathy Szeliga called watching the video of the Columbus monument's destruction "heartbreaking."Listen to the shreiks of mindless glee in the first tweet. The barbarians are well inside the gate. Good luck to their enablers when the mob turns on them.
She was among elected officials and Italian-Americans who gathered at the statue late last month to urge city and state leaders to protect the statue, fearing it would be destroyed.
Szeliga, a Republican who represents Harford and Baltimore counties, said she understands that people have differing views on Columbus. She had hoped there could be a public discussion about the statue's fate, such as whether to move it. Instead, she accused Young and city leaders of purposefully ignoring the threats to the statue and tacitly approving its destruction.
"They turned a blind eye while mobs tore down this statute," Szeliga said.
Del. Nino Mangione, a Baltimore County Republican of Italian ancestry, said his phone lit up with text messages about the statue Saturday night.
"I am just sick and tired of Baltimore really looking like it's some third-rate horror movie because of the absolute inaction of an irresponsible few in leadership," Mangione said. "I just couldn't believe watching that video. It really disgraces all of Baltimore."
Comment: On the same day as the announcement, police delivered warnings to local politicians against displaying the slogan: Some Hongkongers staged a silent "blank placard" protest in a mall today in response. Police entered, stating that the protesters were potentially in breach of the national security law and arrested 8 (three men and five women aged between 17 and 68).