While the majority of Georgia Republicans issued statements on Wednesday marking the guilty verdict reached in the case against Jose Ibarra, who a court determined killed August University nursing student Laken Riley in February, at least three Democratic members of Georgia’s U.S. House delegation instead posted messages marking Transgender Day of Remembrance.
An illegal immigrant who entered the country in 2022, Ibarra was determined during the trial to be a member of the Venezuelan gang, Tren de Aragua. Prosecutors said he was “hunting for females” when he encountered Riley, who was jogging when she was attacked.
Governor Brian Kemp said in a statement posted to the social media platform X that he was “glad that justice has been delivered,” but would “continue to mourn” Riley’s loss, knowing “she should still be with us today,” citing the border policies of the Biden-Harris administration.
Lieutenant Governor Burt Jones similarly accused “Washington Democrats” of placing the “interests of illegal immigrants ahead of Americans,” causing them to fail “to protect Laken Riley.”
Jones wrote, “Laken tragically lost her life and while we can never bring her back, justice was served today. The man who took her life was found guilty and will remain behind bars.”
While Washington Democrats put the interests of illegal immigrants ahead of Americans and failed to protect Laken Riley, in Georgia we are holding this predator accountable.
Laken tragically lost her life and while we can never bring her back, justice was served today. The man… https://t.co/TiPw3sGwGz
— Burt Jones (@burtjonesforga) November 20, 2024
Similar statements were issued by multiple Georgia Republicans in the U.S. House, including Representative Rich McCormick (R-GA-06).
“The Biden Administration used taxpayer dollars to fly criminal illegal alien, Jose Ibarra, from New York to Georgia where he then killed Laken Riley.” McCormick noted in a post to X, “Now Georgia taxpayers will likely be forced to foot the bill for his incarceration for the rest of his life.”
Others suggested Ibarra should receive the death penalty, including Representatives Mike Collins (R-GA-10) and Andrew Clyde (R-GA-09), while Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA-14) noted Riley’s mother requested the judge consider a death sentence.
Similarly, Representative Buddy Carter (R-GA-01) declared, “Justice is served,” while Representative Barry Loudermilk (R-GA-11) also mourned the loss of Riley, who he described as “a gifted student, a talented athlete and the light of her family and community.”
Representative Rick Allen (R-GA-12) similarly expressed condolences for the “pain and suffering of losing a loved one – especially at the hands of an illegal alien,” before adding, “justice was served today.”
Multiple Georgia Democrats instead noted LGBTQ activists celebrate November 20 as the Transgender Day of Remembrance, which the Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD) explains can be honored “by attending and/or organizing a vigil” in order “to honor all those transgender people whose lives were lost to anti-transgender violence that year, and learning about the violence affecting the transgender community.”
“Today we mourn the trans lives lost to violence,” wrote Representative Hank Johnson (D-GA-04) in a post to X. “Of those we know of in the US, half were Black trans women. As a member of the [Equality Caucus], I’m committed to ending anti-trans violence [and] securing a safer future for trans people.”
He was joined in his commemoration by Representative Lucy McBath (D-GA-07), who wrote, “On Transgender Day of Remembrance, we honor the memory of those taken from us by hate. Let us also remember the joy they brought and the example they left behind as we continue the path towards progress.”
Representative Nikema Williams (D-GA-05) shared a post from the Congressional Equality Caucus on X, writing, “In 2024, half of all trans people killed were Black trans women. Violence against the trans community is an epidemic. Congress must do more to protect trans lives—especially Black & brown trans lives—not further demonize them. Trans lives matter.”
In 2024, half of all trans people killed were Black trans women. Violence against the trans community is an epidemic. Congress must do more to protect trans lives—especially Black & brown trans lives—not further demonize them. Trans lives matter. #TDOR https://t.co/VAt0Dl458h
— Congresswoman Nikema Williams (@RepNikema) November 20, 2024
Other Georgia Democrats posted to X about subjects unrelated to Transgender Day of Remembrance or Riley, including Representative David Scott (D-GA-13), who on Wednesday described President Joe Biden as “one of the most transformational Presidents in modern American history.”
Representative Sanford Bishop (D-GA-02) similarly applauded the Biden administration on Wednesday, while Senator Jon Ossoff (D-GA) urged Congress to pass agricultural funding to provide relief to farmers after Hurricane Helene.
Only Senator Raphael Warnock (D-GA) posted a statement responding to the guilty verdict, writing, “My heart goes out to Laken’s family, and I hope today’s verdict gives them some solace.”
Warnock added, “I appreciate the judge for his service in this case and the rapid investigation by law enforcement officials. Laken should still be here.”
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Tom Pappert is the lead reporter for The Tennessee Star, and also reports for The Pennsylvania Daily Star and The Arizona Sun Times. Follow Tom on X/Twitter. Email tips to [email protected].
Photo “Laken Riley” by GoFundMe.
