Government
Kaplan Denounces Pence for Trying to Link White Supremacist Murderer to Peaceful Protests
Oakland City Council President Rebecca Kaplan denounced Vice President Mike Pence’s speech during the Republican National Convention by saying his attempt to link the murder of a Black officer by a white supremacist to the peaceful protesters, “contained deeply misleading statements regarding the horrific murder of Dave Patrick Underwood in Oakland.”
According to the investigation, Mr. Underwood was killed by Steven Carrillo, a follower of the Boogaloo Boys— a right-wing extremist movement connected with white supremacists. Pence wrongly attempted to tie this killing to the Black Lives Matter movement, which, in fact, had no involvement in the killing.
Kaplan said, “There was a white supremacist murder in Oakland – and it is disgusting and wrong for anyone, especially the Vice President, to try to blame the Black Lives Matter movement. Mr. Underwood’s tragic murder was not part of any demonstration, but an act of a violent, armed white supremacist.”
“Pence’s lies attempt to discredit important movements for social justice, and to move blame away from violent white supremacist murder. Communities are put in greater danger when white supremacist murder is excused or blamed on others — while the President and Vice President continue to encourage violent killings by their supporters. Our communities deserve better, and the lies of the Vice President should be denounced by all people of conscience,” said Kaplan
As has been reported previously:
“Steven Carrillo, a California man who was charged with murder, scrawled phrases tied to an online far-right extremist movement in blood on a car shortly before he was detained…. Elements of The Boogaloo have evolved from a gathering of militia enthusiasts and Second Amendment advocates into a full-fledged violent extremist group, which inspires lone wolf actors and cell-like actors alike.”
