Written by Alex Gault for the Watertown Daily Times on August 5, 2020
WATERTOWN — National, local and state Republican officials visited the city on Wednesday to voice their support for law enforcement and declare they “Back the Blue.”
The New York Republican Committee Chairman Nicholas A. Langworthy, joined by Congresswoman Elise M. Stefanik, R-Schuyerville, Assembly Minority Leader William A. Barclay, R-Pulaski, Assemblyman Mark C. Walczyk, R-Watertown, and Kenneth D. Blankenbush, R-Black River, as well as Lewis County Sheriff Michael P. Carpinelli and Jefferson County District Attorney Kristyna S. Mills, declared they, and the state’s Republican party, unequivocally support law enforcement officers across the nation while standing in front of the Jefferson County Courthouse on Arsenal Street.
“The New York (State) Republican party stands firmly and strongly with the men and women of law enforcement,” Mr. Langworthy said. “Our feet are planted solidly on the thin blue line, with the brave heroes who risk their lives to keep us safe every single day.”
He criticized state criminal justice reforms, including bail reform and the law that raises the age of criminal responsibility from 16 to 18, calling them the result of “Democrat totalitarianism” in state government.
“(Law enforcement officers) don’t deserve a governor, or a state Legislature, or city officials, who turn their back on them while they’re under siege,” Mr. Langworthy said. “They don’t deserve policies that tie their hands and neuter them to the point that it’s they, the officers of the law, that are wearing the handcuffs, while the criminals walk free.”
When asked if he supports the Black Lives Matter movement, Mr. Langworthy said he believes that all lives matter.
“I think that Black lives matter, I think that all lives matter,” he said. “I think that we need to have a culture where we put human life above all, where we’re all working to make sure that violence is put aside.”
Rep. Stefanik, who spoke at the conference after spending the morning touring the Jefferson-Lewis BOCES building to see part of its $20 million renovation project, echoed Mr. Langworthy’s sentiments, and said she’s the only candidate in the NY-21 House race who supports police and “backs the blue.”
“My opponent has a record of smearing law enforcement. She wants to defund the police,” Rep. Stefanik said. “She has sided with the rioters and looters, and has run negative digital ads smearing our hard working law enforcement. Her top supporters, her donors and her top campaign allies and staff are vocally calling to defund and even abolish our police departments entirely.”
Rep. Stefanik, who spoke at the conference after spending the morning touring the Jefferson-Lewis BOCES building to see part of its $20 million renovation project, echoed Mr. Langworthy’s sentiments, and said she’s the only candidate in the NY-21 House race who supports police and “backs the blue.”
“My opponent has a record of smearing law enforcement. She wants to defund the police,” Rep. Stefanik said. “She has sided with the rioters and looters, and has run negative digital ads smearing our hard working law enforcement. Her top supporters, her donors and her top campaign allies and staff are vocally calling to defund and even abolish our police departments entirely.”
Assemblyman Walczyk lauded law enforcement officers for their commitment to their jobs, and said he would like to see more Democrats join the call to support law enforcement officers.
“Our law enforcement put on their boots in the morning, they go to work, and they deal with people on their worst day of their life, every single day, as a part of their job,” he said. “That is the weight that they carry as our men and women in law enforcement, and that is why I back the blue so ardently.”
Mr. Langworthy said he hopes his message is heard across the state, and he intends to, along with Republican officials and nominees across the state, bring his message of support for law enforcement to every city, town and village in the state.
“The New York (State) Republican party is proud to unequivocally say that we stand with our men and women in blue,” he said. “We stand for safety and security for our families, and yours. We stand proudly for our flag, for our military and for everything they represent. That’s what’s on the ballot in November.”
You can read the full article at https://www.nny360.com/
