Democrats are well-known for ignoring the facts, but this particular lying Democrat mayor took it much further, announcing that an accident at a pride parade was an act of terror without all the facts, possibly ending his own career.
Democrat Doesn’t Wait for the Facts
One of the best examples of the left releasing insane statements before all of the facts are out was the Jussie Smollett incident. Now, Ft. Lauderdale Mayor Dean Trantalis is following in the footsteps of the Democrats who believed Jussie’s story by jumping to wild conclusions without any facts to back him up.
Mayor Trantalis is now facing a lot of backlash for calling a deadly accident at a pride parade in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida a “terrorist attack against the LGBT community” before any facts were released about the incident.
“This is a terrorist attack against the LGBT community. This is exactly what it is. Hardly an accident. It was deliberate, it was premeditated, and it was targeted against a specific person,” the mayor said in an interview with a local news outlet, referring to disgraced Congresswoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz, who was marching in the parade. “Luckily they missed that person, but unfortunately, they hit two other people.”
WATCH:
BREAKING: At least 2 people have been hit by a truck at the beginning of the @WiltonManorsCty #Pride parade. @delarosaWPLG was only yards away at the time. He spoke with @DeanTrantalis. @WPLGLocal10 pic.twitter.com/CRRmGz0a12
— Ian Margol (@IanMargolWPLG) June 19, 2021
Of course, Trantalis was wrong. Soon after he made his statement, it was revealed that the driver and the victims were all members of the Fort Lauderdale Gay Men’s Chorus family, which would have been obvious to anyone considering the driver was wearing a t-shirt with the group’s name on it.
Author Grant Stern pointed this out in a post on Twitter, writing: “If the Mayor had waited even 15 minutes, then he could’ve made a reasoned statement. Video of the arrest showed the driver wearing a gay men’s chorus t-shirt, which was more than enough to sew reasonable doubt about the intent of the driver.”
If the Mayor had waited even 15 minutes, then he could've made a reasoned statement. Video of the arrest showed the driver wearing a gay men's chorus t-shirt, which was more than enough to sew reasonable doubt about the intent of the driver.
— Grant Stern is fully vaccinated (@grantstern) June 20, 2021
The president of the Fort Lauderdale Gay Men’s Chorus, Justin Knight, released a statement about the incident, writing: “To my knowledge it was an accident. This was not an attack on the LGBTQ community. We anticipate more details to follow and ask for the community’s love and support.”
The Incident
According to police, the driver was a 77 year old man with ailments that prevented him from walking the duration of the parade, so he was chosen to drive as the lead vehicle. As the parade was about to start, his 2011 white Dodge Ram unexpectedly drove into the crowd. The vehicle continued across all lanes of traffic, finally crashing into the fence of a business.
One man was killed in this accident, and another was seriously injured. The truck also narrowly missed hitting Democrat Representative Wasserman Schultz.
Police report that the driver stayed at the scene and was cooperative with investigators, who said that he showed no signs of impairment while driving.
Walking it Back
Trantalis quickly tried to walk back his statement after the backlash, but the damage was done.
“Last evening, at the start of what was to be a celebration of pride for the LGBT community and commemoration of our hard-won victories for equality, our community faced the worst of tragedies. The grief of our LGBT community — and greater Fort Lauderdale as a whole — is palpable,” the mayor said. “I was an eyewitness to the horrifying events. It terrorized me and all around me. I reported what I saw to law enforcement and had strong concerns about what transpired — concerns for the safety of my community. I feared it could be intentional based on what I saw from mere feet away.”
“Law enforcement took what appeared obvious to me and others nearby and investigated further — as is their job. As the facts continue to be pieced together, a picture is emerging of an accident in which a truck careened out of control,” he added.
Though he made this statement, he has yet to apologize.
Fort Lauderdale Mayor @DeanTrantalis rushed to judgement and called a tragic car crash at a Pride parade a "premeditated" "terrorist attack."
Despite investigations proving him wrong, Trantalis has yet to apologize. https://t.co/CfAGy5rJ98
— MRCTV (@mrctv) June 21, 2021
Backlash
When the facts came out, Twitter lit up with critics of Trantalis’ rush to judgement.
“I hope @DeanTrantalis gets sued and then removed from office or defeated. Government officials shouldn’t be able accuse someone of *terrorism* so flippantly without facts,” conservative author David Reaboi wrote on Twitter.
I hope @DeanTrantalis gets sued and then removed from office or defeated. Government officials shouldn’t be able accuse someone of *terrorism* so flippantly without facts. pic.twitter.com/E7cjgGxb2V
— David Reaboi, Late Republic Nonsense (@davereaboi) June 20, 2021
“Far left Ft. Lauderdale Mayor @DeanTrantalis needs to publicly retract and apologize,” former NYPD officer John Cardillo tweeted.
Far left Ft. Lauderdale Mayor @DeanTrantalis needs to publicly retract and apologize. pic.twitter.com/nx04OfRso9
— John Cardillo (@johncardillo) June 20, 2021
Some are even calling for Mayor Trantalis to resign for making such careless accusations.
“Fort Lauderdale Mayor Dean Trantalis described a car accident at a Pride Event as a terrorist attack, an attack on the LGBTQ+ Community, & an assassination attempt on Wasserman Schultz! He had no facts & his words could have incited major riots. He should resign immediately!” wrote Twitter user Ginger Gano.
Fort Lauderdale Mayor Dean Trantalis described a car accident at a Pride Event as a terrorist attack, an attack on the LGBTQ+ Community, & an assassination attempt on Wasserman Schultz!
He had no facts & his words could have incited major riots. He should resign immediately!
— Ginger Gano (@GingerGano) June 20, 2021
