Shootings, vile rhetoric must be condemned

Last weekend, according to witnesses, a couple of hatefilled men entered an encampment and shot people, killing one. This act is a consequence of the vile rhetoric perpetuated in local social media groups such as One Chico.

Just before the shooting, a group admin shared a video showing where people were camped and calling them scumbags. Comments on that video included “it’s time for a purge.” Then, when a vigil was held outside the council chambers for the murdered man, the same admin posted a laugh emoji, calling it a “game” and “enabler protest.”

This act is also a consequence of current city “leadership.” When Scott Huber was harassed by many of the same people, only Alex Brown spoke out. When I asked about their silence, another councilmember responded, “politics is an ugly game.”

In the wake of another murder of an unsheltered person in our community, and the vigil held outside the council, only Brown spoke out, again. None of the rest expressed sorrow or anger or anything about the ugliness that appears to have led to murder.

Politics is an ugly game, is it? How about murder? What would it take for the council to speak out about the dangerous rhetoric from the people who paid for their seats?

To that councilmember and the community: It’s not about politics, it’s about who you are. And how many people have revealed themselves to be is … I don’t even have words. At least not words that can be printed here.

— Angela McLaughlin, Chico