Needed Reminder

Laken Riley’s father not happy tragedy has been politicized

For politicians, Democrats and Republicans alike, slain Georgia Nursing student Laken Riley has become a hot topic.

For her father, though, she is the daughter he is grieving.

Laken Riley, 22, was killed last month while jogging on campus at the University of Georgia. Her accused killer is 26-year-old Venezuelan national in this country illegally.

Some Republicans, including former President Donald Trump and U.S. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene were quick to seize on the student’s death as a weapon against President Joe Biden’s handling of illegal immigration.

Biden and other Democrats were quick to counter with expressions of sympathy for Laken Riley and her family.

But the young woman’s father, Jason Riley, isn’t happy his daughter’s tragedy has become a political football. A way to further divide an already divided country.

Jason Riley is a Trump supporter and wants strong border security, but as he told NBC’S Today Show on Monday, he also wants his daughter to be remembered for who she was, not used by anyone to gather votes.

“I think (her name is) being used politically to get those votes,” Jason Riley said. “It makes me angry. I feel like, you know, they’re just using my daughter’s name for that. And she was much better than that, and she should be raised up for the person that she is. She was an angel.”

These days, it’s common for tragedies to be used for political gain. But Jason Riley’s words are a reminder that politicians, the media — and everyday Americans, who can be especially callous and cruel on social media — should never forget there are real people in all those stories.