‘Transphobe’ gun tweet prompts Arizona governor’s press secretary to resign

OAN Brooke Mallory
UPDATED 6:34 PM – Wednesday, March 29, 2023

Katie Hobbs’ Press Secretary Josselyn Berry had posted a Twitter comment insinuating to advocate gun violence against “transphobes,” just hours after a biological woman who identified as a transgender man shot and killed six people at a Tennessee school.

Berry, a Democratic activist and Hobbs’ ex-spokesperson, tweeted “Us when we encounter transphobes,” mere hours after Audrey Hale, 28, opened fire at Nashville’s Covenant School, murdering three children and three adults.

The most recent school shooting is also being thought of as a hate crime targeting Christians, since it took place at a notable Christian school.

Two of her victims was a pastor and his young daughter.

Berry’s tweet featured a GIF (animated image) of actress Gena Rowlands pointing two revolver firearms in a scene from the 1980 film “Gloria.”

“The Governor does not condone violence in any form. This administration holds mutual respect at the forefront of how we engage with one another. The post by the Press Secretary is not reflective of the values of the administration. The Governor has received and accepted the resignation of the Press Secretary,” said the governor’s office in a statement on Wednesday. 

Arizona Republicans swiftly charged Berry with instigating violence and demanded that Hobbs dismiss her from her administration.

Calling for violence is NEVER acceptable@GovernorHobbs Press Sec. tweeting about shooting political opponents on the same day a trans activist shoots up a school is nothing short of vile & heartless

There is no room for this in AZ

Fire @joss_berry nowhttps://t.co/OJV68aWdNQ

— Arizona Freedom Caucus (@AZFreedomCaucus) March 29, 2023

Fire @joss_berry. Calling for violence from the 9th floor is beneath the office she is supposed to serve.

— AZ State Rep. Austin Smith (@azaustinsmith) March 29, 2023

Please contact @katiehobbs‘ office and respectfully demand that she fire her press secretary, Josselyn Berry, who posted an inciteful meme calling for the murder of transphobes. Pray for a peaceful resolution. https://t.co/ht4FIvqjEs
tel:602/542-4331

— Arizona Women of Action (@azwomenofaction) March 29, 2023

Twitter employees eventually deleted the offensive tweet from the app for breaking the terms of service.

An inquiry for comment was not immediately answered by the Office of Governor Hobbs.

This recent incident will likely perpetuate the belief in some that transgender people and trans activists are inherently violent and are no longer tolerating individuals who don’t consider trans people to be the gender that they identify as.

This is a bad look for Governor Hobbs and her administration but Berry’s resignation will also likely help “calm the flames” of angry Conservatives and those who are fearful of being thought of as a transphobe.

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