By Linda Krotki
As many people have expressed recently, there is a need for unity in Athens. Divisive comments made with no basis in truth merit a closer look.
Commissioner Link’s words at the Mayor & Commission meeting on March 5th are words that demand scrutiny. She stated that Laken Riley’s tragic death and the subsequent arrest of Jose Ibarra was met with, “hysterical glee” and that many “seized upon this tragedy to promote division, bigotry, and hate.”
There is no truth in those statements that do nothing more than generate further division in our community.
The truth is that following Laken Riley’s murder, many have pointed to the importance of following and enforcing laws. Others have pointed to the many needs of our citizens throughout the county that are currently not being adequately addressed. No one I have seen speak on this situation nor anyone I know personally had a motivation rooted in bigotry or hate as Ms. Link would have us believe.
Commissioner Link spurred further division when she implied that with “terrifying regularity” white men and their gun-loving ways are responsible for the mass shootings taking place across America. I researched many of those events. I did not find white supremacy to be the common thread among shooters. Overwhelmingly, I found that shooters suffered with mental health issues.
Ms. Link made us aware that she is in favor of banning guns. She ignores the fact that people kill, not guns. The tragic irony here is that Jose Ibarra didn’t need a gun to kill Laken Riley, and Laken might still be with us if she had a defensive weapon such as a gun.
Commissioner Link’s commentary during the March 5th meeting was based on her own biases and misguided perceptions, was based on lies, and was highly divisive. For these reasons, Ms. Link warrants censure by this Commission and a verbal apology to the city she disparaged as well as to the commissioners who remained silent in regard to her obvious violation of the Resolution Pledging to Practice and Promote Civility in Athens-Clarke County. (https://www.accgov.com/Document Center/View/92374/Resolution---Civility-in-Athens-Clarke-County- 3142023?bidid=).