Josselyn Berry, a top aide for Democrat Governor of Arizona, Katie Hobbs, has resigned following an avalanche of criticism for posting a tweet encouraging the shooting of “transphobes.”
Berry’s controversial tweet came hours after a 28-year-old transgender artist slaughtered six people – including three children – in a shooting at a Christian elementary school in Nashville, Tennessee.
You read that correctly. She posted this after a transgender terrorist had shot and killed small children and older faculty members at a private religious school.
Berry, who serves as Hobbs’ press secretary and describes herself as “a bird enthusiast with a real feminist bent,” posted a GIF of a woman holding two handguns alongside the caption: “Us when we see transphobes”.
Yes, Josselyn. That’s literally what we just saw.
This, from AZ Gov @katiehobbs‘ spokesperson Josselyn Berry hours after the Nashville school shooting, is abhorrent and indefensible. And to go 36 hours without comment?
Barring the most improbable of explanations, she must apologize – and resign.https://t.co/Ad3l8iHG2z pic.twitter.com/LMAIGEGE1r
— Keith Olbermann (@KeithOlbermann) March 29, 2023
Katie Hobbs’ Press Secretary Calls For Shooting ‘Transphobes’
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How bad does it have to be for Keith Olbermann – KEITH OLBERMANN – to point out that what you’ve tweeted is “abhorrent and indefensible”?
Berry locked her Twitter account, but according to the Arizona Freedom Caucus, the tweet remains live on her feed.
“Less than 12 hours after the tragic shooting in Nashville by a deranged transgender activist @katiehobbs’ Press Secretary calls for shooting people Democrats disagree with,” the group tweeted.
“Calling for violence like this is un-American & never acceptable.”
Less than 12 hours after the tragic shooting in Nashville by a deranged transgender activist @katiehobbs’ Press Secretary calls for shooting people Democrats disagree with.
Calling for violence like this is un-American & never acceptable.@joss_berry should be fired immediately pic.twitter.com/wYHHkmsNNE
— Arizona Freedom Caucus (@AZFreedomCaucus) March 29, 2023
There’s really no gray area with Berry’s tweet. It’s very clear.
Of course it requires widespread and bipartisan condemnation. If Sarah Palin’s target maps were used as evidence of violent rhetoric once upon a time, then this is next-level and, unlike the Palin controversy, real.
A quick search of the social media platform shows countless examples of people calling for Katie Hobbs’ press secretary to either resign or be fired.
Josselyn Berry needs to resign immediately if she hasn’t already been fired for her dangerous rhetoric. If some whack job takes a shot at someone she needs to be held personally responsible. What an absolute fool. pic.twitter.com/SLWCoPlGTE
— Travis Grantham (@TravisGrantham) March 29, 2023
Report: Josselyn Berry Resigns
Arizona Family, a news outlet powered by KTVK 3TV and KPHO CBS 5 News, reported that Josselyn Berry has resigned following the controversial tweet.
“The governor’s office confirmed first to Arizona’s Family that Berry resigned overnight after growing pressure from those within her circle and other lawmakers,” they write.
BREAKING: Gov. Hobbs’ press secretary resigns after controversial tweet following Nashville mass shooting: https://t.co/yCzdHdoZfX pic.twitter.com/rCK2gi2XUP
— azfamily 3TV CBS 5 (@azfamily) March 29, 2023
In 2020, Berry wrote an official press statement for the Arizona Senate Democrats in which she quoted fugitive cop-killer Assata Shakur.
Response to use of Assata Shakur quote in earlier statement pic.twitter.com/wrtauNmchp
— Arizona Senate Democrats (@AZSenateDems) May 29, 2020
Shakur, also known as Joanne Chesimard, is a convicted and escaped cop-killer who in 2013 was named to the FBI’s Most Wanted Terrorists list under Barack Obama.
Statement from Katie Hobbs
“The Governor does not condone violence in any form. This administration holds mutual respect at the forefront of how we engage with one another,” the statement reads.
“The post by the Press Secretary is not reflective of the values of the administration.”
Please see the statement from the Office of Governor Hobbs:https://t.co/HTqtkIWO9k
— Governor Katie Hobbs (@GovernorHobbs) March 29, 2023
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