Black Maryland politicians respond to racist comments following Key Bridge collapse

BALTIMORE — With less than two weeks left before they adjourn for the year, the Maryland General Assembly has continued its work in the face of the collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge. But, for some lawmakers, it tinges the remainder of the legislating to be done and their role as elected officials.

Sen. Charles Sydnor, a Black Democrat from Baltimore County, stood on the Senate floor at the end of Thursday’s session, addressing his dismay at the racism and politicization of the bridge’s destruction that has flooded social media since Tuesday.

From behind their keyboards, some people have blamed the accident that left one individual unscathed, one severely injured, two confirmed dead and four presumed dead on diversity, equity and inclusion, or DEI.

Among the innumerable posts, Sydnor pointed to Utah Republican state representative and gubernatorial hopeful Phil Lyman, who wrote on X that the bridge’s collapse is “the result of governors who prioritize diversity over the well-being and security of citizens,” and at an unnamed Republican congressional candidate in Florida who stated that “DEI did this.”

—The Baltimore Sun

Judge rules that Gaetz, Greene can sue Anaheim, Riverside for canceled rallies

A lawsuit from Reps. Matt Gaetz and Marjorie Taylor Greene against Anaheim and Riverside, accusing the cities of wrongfully canceling their rallies in 2021, can move forward, a federal judge has ruled.

The ruling rejects the cities’ attempts to be dismissed from the case. It does allow political advocacy groups that were also sued to be dismissed.

Judge Hernan D. Vera, in his ruling released March 22, rejected the lawsuit’s claim that the nonprofits conspired with the cities to cancel the rallies and wrote that “the effect of Plaintiffs’ unprecedented and stunningly deficient pleading — hauling nine civil rights groups into federal court for speaking out against an event — should shock in equal measure civic members from across the political spectrum.”

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