GOP State Lawmaker Shares Meme Encouraging Cars To Hit Protesters

Republican Rep. Lynne DiSanto testifies on Thursday, Jan. 28, 2016, in a state House committee at the Capitol in Pierre, S.D. DiSanto's proposal to require adult welfare applicants under age 65 to pass drug tests bef... Republican Rep. Lynne DiSanto testifies on Thursday, Jan. 28, 2016, in a state House committee at the Capitol in Pierre, S.D. DiSanto's proposal to require adult welfare applicants under age 65 to pass drug tests before receiving food stamps or cash assistance was shot down. (AP Photo/James Nord) MORE LESS
Start your day with TPM.
Sign up for the Morning Memo newsletter

A Republican state legislator in South Dakota apologized Tuesday after sharing a meme on Facebook that appeared to encourage people to hit protestors with vehicles.

Under the headline “All Lives Splatter,” the cartoon showed a car apparently hitting people in the street and said “nobody cares about your protest” and “keep your ass out of the road.”

Her caption above the image said “I think this is a movement we can all support,” according to local newspaper, the Argus Leader.

After local progressive groups shared the image and asked for an apology from the lawmaker, Rep. Lynne DiSanto deleted the post and said she “perceived it as encouraging people to stay out of the street.”

“I am sorry if people took offense to it and perceived my message in any way insinuating support or condoning people being hit by cars,” DiSanto said, according to the Rapid City Journal. “I perceived it differently.”

Not long after the post was deleted, the real estate firm where she works posted on Facebook that DiSanto was no longer associated with the company, “due to recent events,” Rapid City Journal reported.

The post comes at a time of heightened concern about violence at protests. 

About a month ago a violent white supremacist rally in Charlottesville, Virginia ended in the death of a woman named Heather Heyer, who was killed when a man affiliated with the white supremacists allegedly drove his car through a crowd of counter protesters.

Latest Livewire

Notable Replies

  1. Countdown to “why can’t you LIBRULZ take a joke?” and/or “it’s about PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY, LIBTARD”.

    In 3…2…1…

  2. Hyuck hyuck all in good fun / can’t you take a joke? / wow PC police alert! / my best friend was hit by a car / I was in a pacifist group on campus / y’all need to lighten up / obviously I would never advocate actual violence but don’t they kind of have it coming for protesting / (I do sorta wish this kind of thing would happen more) / but jeez loosen up a little / it’s free speech okay? / you just don’t understand my economic anxiety

  3. “I am sorry if people took offense to it and perceived my message in any way insinuating support or condoning people being hit by cars,” DiSanto said, according to the Rapid City Journal. “I perceived it differently.”

    That´s one of the most passive/aggressive non-apology apologies I´ve heard in a while.

  4. Expect the decrying of an assault on her freedom of speech by the right wing. Freedom of speech does not guarantee freedom from consequences.

  5. Female MUNT say what?

Continue the discussion at forums.talkingpointsmemo.com

91 more replies

Participants

Avatar for booch221 Avatar for fgs Avatar for sysprog Avatar for jep07 Avatar for thunderhawk Avatar for steviedee111 Avatar for randyabraham Avatar for sandyh Avatar for thebigragu Avatar for sickneffintired Avatar for zrx1100 Avatar for captaincommonsense Avatar for dickweed Avatar for darrtown Avatar for wagonmound Avatar for tsp Avatar for jenbieds Avatar for jordanolsen26 Avatar for jefemeister17 Avatar for canyoncountry Avatar for jquas2sunset Avatar for somuchforsubtlety Avatar for loss_mentality Avatar for kenga

Continue Discussion
Masthead Masthead
Founder & Editor-in-Chief:
Executive Editor:
Managing Editor:
Deputy Editor:
Editor at Large:
General Counsel:
Publisher:
Head of Product:
Director of Technology:
Associate Publisher:
Front End Developer:
Senior Designer: