In case anyone thinks my last post was an
exaggeration, New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy dispelled any doubt. In Gov.
Murphy defends decision to attend Black Lives Matter events despite his ban on
large gatherings, Matt Arco reports for
NJ.com:
Gov. Phil Murphy defended his decision to take part in two Black
Lives Matter events over the weekend
that defied his own order against public gatherings limited to 25 people and
guidelines for social distancing amid the coronavirus pandemic.
Although Murphy, his wife Tammy Murphy and other protesters
pictured holding a sign in Westfield wore masks, they could be seen standing
shoulder-to-shoulder with one another — something else Murphy has repeatedly
told people not to do while in public. Public gatherings of more than 25 people
are prohibited under his executive order, which has spurred some New Jersey
Republicans to
criticize Murphy for violating his own order.
But Murphy said Monday he stands by his decision to attend the
events.
“This may be one of the most profound moments in the history of our
country,” Murphy said at his regular COVID-19 briefing in
Trenton. “This is the moment that I think is bigger than
any of us right now.”
This is a "profound moment," alright.
Under Phil Murphy, we're seeing perhaps the most egregious abuse of power by a
state government since the defeat of the Confederate slavocracy. Murphy rules
by arbitrary dictat, but enforces his dictats unequally, depending on which
people are in or out of his favor.
He allows people to defy his orders with
impunity, as long as they are protesting in a cause he favors. Never mind that
these”peaceful” demonstrators are blocking streets and commerce, violating the
rights of others to use the public streets and shop in the stores or get to
work. He clamps down with police power on those who defy his orders in protestfor causes he disfavors; who are opening their businesses to anyone who chooses
to patronize them but violating no one’s rights, merely exercising their right
to earn a living.
Worst of all, as dictators usually do, Murphy
declares himself not only above the law, but above his own dictats that he
expects other people to abide by. Apparently, "this moment" is bigger
than everyone . . . except Phil Murphy.
In an
inversion of America’s ideals, Murphy fosters rights-violators, while punishing
non-rights-violators for exercising their own rights. To anyone who still takes
rationality seriously, Murphy's actions have become completely indefensible.
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