Kinsey, Webster and PLBC members amplify call to remove Montco Commissioner Joe Gale

JEFFERSONVILLE, Aug. 13 – State Reps. Stephen Kinsey, D-Phila., chairman of the Pennsylvania Legislative Black Caucus; and Joe Webster, D-Montgomery, along with PLBC members state Reps. Margo Davidson, D-Delaware, and Patty Kim, D-Dauphin, today participated in a “Free from Hate” news conference led by PA Women Rise at the West Norriton Municipal Center.

The group’s “Free from Hate” platform was centered around increased demands for the ousting of Montgomery County Commissioner Joseph Gale for his comments earlier this summer referring to people involved in the Black Lives Matter movement as terrorists.

To further amplify their demands, the state legislators unveiled Webster’s H.R. 920, which would impeach Gale and which Webster introduced in response to the offensive statement.

“In our quest to free our communities of hate, we must condemn actors like Commissioner Gale who used his official capacity to perpetuate hate by vilifying residents’ calls for equality and justice,” Kinsey said. “Instead of being an active agent of change in upholding those calls, Gale chose to side with the powers of oppression. His actions demonstrate his complacency with injustice, making him unfit to serve the public, and for that, Gale must be removed immediately.”

Concurring with Kinsey, Webster acknowledged the solidarity among lawmakers and community members, and also called for action.

“Today’s ‘Freedom from Hate’ press event stands as one more community announcement – from our legislative leaders, from Montco’s own PA Women Rise, from our clergy, from our Asian community and the Woori Center, and from Norristown’s Young Scholars,” Webster said. “There is no excuse, only action. There is no time for diversion and deliberate misinformation. It is time to recognize Black Lives Matter in all things, so all of Pennsylvania can move forward.”