A web based publish made by the mayor of Bernville following the tried assassination of former President Donald Trump on Saturday has obtained a mountain of backlash that has led the borough to quickly shut its workplaces.
Shawn Raup-Konsavage, a Democrat who has served as mayor since 2018, took to Fb after the capturing at a Trump rally in western Pennsylvania and posted a message studying, “#PennsylvaniaProud. Strive tougher.”
Screenshots of the publish had been extensively shared on-line, however Raup-Konsavage’s web page and the unique publish can not be present in a search on Fb. Raup-Konsavage couldn’t be reached for remark.
The publish created a firestorm, with different social media customers sharing pictures of it and lambasting the mayor for what they consider is help for political violence. A petition has been created on the web site Change.org demanding Raup-Konsavage be faraway from his publish.
As of Thursday morning it had greater than 3,700 signatures, 4 occasions the quantity of people that dwell in Bernville.
Folks upset with the publish have additionally been expressing their emotions by contacting different borough officers. A message issued Wednesday by borough council signifies Bernville’s municipal workplace has been flooded with calls and emails.
The message stresses that Raup-Konsavage’s publish represented his private emotions and didn’t characterize an official stance of the borough. It goes on to say that due to the amount of communications the borough has been receiving in regards to the publish the borough workplace might be closed for the rest of the week.
The message states {that a} borough council doesn’t have the facility to take away a mayor.
In line with state legislation, all elected officers in Pennsylvania, together with these on the county, municipal and college district degree, are topic to an unique methodology for removing established within the state structure.
Elected officers could be faraway from workplace solely by impeachment within the state Common Meeting; by the governor for cheap trigger after due discover and a full listening to on the handle of two-thirds of the Senate; or upon conviction of misbehavior in workplace or of any notorious crime in accordance with the structure.
The assertion from borough council reads in full:
“In response to the feedback made on Fb by Mayor Shawn Raup-Konsavage following the tried assassination of Donald Trump on Saturday, Bernville Borough Council points the next assertion:
“First, we need to ship condolences and ideas to the households of these people that had been killed or injured on the occasion.
“As a physique, Council needed to advise the general public that the statements made by Raup-Konsavage had been on his personal private Fb web page. They weren’t licensed nor condoned by Borough Council. The views expressed had been his personal and never these of Council.
“In response to feedback for Council to take away Raup-Konsavage as Mayor, beneath Pennsylvania legislation, Council for the Borough has no authority to take away a mayor.
“In consideration, we might ask that each one communications to the Borough on this matter stop. The Borough or particular person Council members won’t reply to any additional feedback or inquiries on this topic.
“Please be aware that cellphone calls and messages are recorded, and any such communications thought-about threatening might be turned over to the police for investigation.
“In gentle of a number of the communications the Borough has obtained, out of warning and for the safety of the staff, Borough Corridor might be closed the rest of this week. Ought to threatening communications proceed, we’ll reevaluate the necessity to lengthen the closure of Borough Corridor.
“When you’ve got professional enterprise with the Borough, please name 484-769-8594 or electronic mail brenda@bernvilleborough.org with the data and a consultant will contact you.”
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