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President Joe Biden, former President Barack Obama, Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) and other leading Democrats didn’t speak out on Twitter about the attack in Waukesha that resulted in six American deaths and injured more than sixty others.
Last Sunday, November 21, suspect Darrell Brooks, already charged with several counts of first-degree murder, rammed into a crowd during the Christmas parade in Waukesha, Wisconsin. A couple of days later, when police confirmed Brooks’ identity, it was revealed that the man has a lengthy criminal history that includes hit-and-runs and sexual assaults. Brooks had been released from prison on Nov. 19 after posting a low $1,000 bond after running over a gas station and beating his son’s mother in Milwaukee.
The man, who police said was fleeing a domestic violence scene, had pro-Hitler memes on his social media and had also called for violence against white people. Many online users, outraged by Brooks’ actions, posts and criminal history, called for the attack to be considered a terrorist act or hate crime. Authorities, so far, say there is no indication that the attack was a terrorist act.
President Biden overlooked the Waukesha tragedy
President Biden has been very active on Twitter on both his personal and official accounts tweeting about the bipartisan infrastructure bill, the new COVID-19 variant detected in South Africa, gas companies, the Ahmaud Arbery trial verdict — about which he issued a statement — the employment situation under his administration and diabetes, among other topics.
On other occasions, Biden used his social networks to pronounce or position himself in relation to tragedies that also caused a lot of controversy. The president has several tweets about the Charlottesville attack, the George Floyd case, and usually speaks the same day or the day after every tragedy that grabs national attention.
In this case, the president only included his condolences to the family members in a statement where the purpose was not to talk about the mass attack in Waukesha but to introduce his appointments as chairman and vice chairman of the Federal Reserve.
Also this week, Milwaukee’s Fox 6 revealed that the Biden-Harris administration is continuing efforts to push for reform that would eliminate cash bail to combat alleged race, gender and wealth disparities within the criminal justice system. That’s despite the fact that Brooks was released from prison thanks to a bond deemed “inappropriately low” by prosecutors.
The “Squad” didn’t tweet about Waukesha either
Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and other Democratic representatives considered radical, such as Ilhan Omar and Rashida Tlaib, didn’t talk about the tragedy either. The representatives have spoken out about different attacks in the past and they have said that the American criminal system is corrupt and biased in favor of white people. However, Brooks, despite being black and having a long criminal record, could easily avoid jail time before driving the van with which he rammed the civilians in Waukesha.
Other Democratic politicians who were also conspicuous by their absence and some who did speak out included.
Barack Obama, Hillary Clinton, Nancy Pelosi and Bernie Sanders also made no mention on social media about the attack despite the fact that six Americans were killed.
One of the few Democrats to speak out on social media was Vice President Kamala Harris, who tweeted, “The violence that occurred last night in Waukesha, Wisconsin is heartbreaking. To the families who lost a loved one and the entire Waukesha community, know that we are praying for you and stand with you.”
White House press secretary Jen Psaki also tweeted, “@POTUS was briefed last night on the tragic situation in Waukesha and he will receive regular updates. Our team is in close touch with local officials to offer any support and assistance needed. Our hearts are with the families and the entire community.”
Beyond isolated instances where they expressed solidarity with the victims and families, almost no Democrat dared to point out that the man identified as committing the attack was a long-time criminal who avoided jail time thanks to the facilities of the system. This has caused criticism, even in liberal media, such as The New York Times, where columns were published criticizing the weakness of the Democrats to combat the increase in crime and violence.
Emmanuel Alejandro Rondón is a journalist at El American specializing in the areas of American politics and media analysis // Emmanuel Alejandro Rondón es periodista de El American especializado en las áreas de política americana y análisis de medios de comunicación.
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