Kate Steinle Backlash Goes Nuclear as #BoycottSanFrancisco Starts Trending on Twitter
The acquittal of Jose Ines Garcia Zarate in the high-profile murder case of Kate Steinle is not going over well on the conservative right. In monolithic fashion, the American right has exploded in outrage over perceived injustice in the case. With the hastag #BoycottSanFrancisco now trending on Twitter, the Kate Steinle backlash has officially gone nuclear—as it should, if we’re objectively analyzing key facts in the case.
For example, Zarate, 45, was acquitted of murder and involuntary manslaughter charges, despite admitting to killing the victim in broad daylight. Zarate claims that the gun used to kill Steinle was under a bench, wrapped in T-shirt, and that he accidentally discharged it when he stepped on it (what are the odds of that happening, and hitting a moving target?).
Advertisement
Zarate also attempted to cover his tracks by throwing the gun into the San Francisco Bay and fleeing. Oh, and he was previously deported from the United States fives times and he was a seven-time convicted felon.
Adding to the outrage was the fact Zarate should never have been on the street.
On April 15, 2015, he was released from the San Francisco County Jail (where he was being held on a marijuana trafficking charge), despite a federal request to deport him. The sheriff who released Zarate, Ross Mirkarimi, did so because he claimed he was just following San Francisco’s “sanctuary city” policy, which restricts the cooperation of local law enforcement with immigration authorities. In other words, sanctuary city policy usurped federal law, allowing a criminal back on the street. (Source: “Kate Steinle case: Trump in Twitter fury as jury acquits illegal immigrant charged in San Francisco killing,” The Washington Post, December 1, 2017.)
Here’s a sampling of assorted tweets from the #BoycottSanFrancisco campaign:
The SF District Attorney Office @SFDAOffice wants you to know that they assembled their best team to work on behalf of Kate Steinle & her family.
At least that firearm charge stuck!#victory
signed, DA @GeorgeGascon#BoycottSanFrancisco pic.twitter.com/1OzUXPtZ3U— PlayTheTrumpCard (@PlaysTrumpCard) December 1, 2017
Hey #BoycottSanFrancisco chumps —
You’d better delete all your Twitter accounts, every time you touch this site you put dollars in the pockets of a SF-based business that pays taxes to the city. ????✌️????️???? pic.twitter.com/1jS6KfOZUa
— Skully T. (@MantleSkull) December 1, 2017
#BoycottSanFrancisco – soy boy capital of the world. Used needle-strewn hipster dystopia.
Safe space for murderers. pic.twitter.com/DD1kXV0ZcG
— Paul Joseph Watson (@PrisonPlanet) December 1, 2017
When no justice can be found in the "justice system," people will take matters into their own hands.
There is only so much that Americans will tolerate.#BoycottSanFrancisco#KateSteinle
— Mark Pantano (@TheMarkPantano) December 1, 2017
America…cancel your trips to California! The only way a message gets sent is to cancel any and all tourism. Don't buy from openly owned Liberal businesses in San Franfreakshow! #boycottSanFrancisco #boycottsanfran https://t.co/qdgarsK4ay
— Jillion R. Rising (@JillionRRising) December 1, 2017
Although Zarate was absolved of murder and the lesser charges of involuntary manslaughter and assault with a deadly weapon, he doesn’t go totally unpunished. He was convicted of being a felon in possession of a firearm, which carries a maximum three-year prison sentence. There’s also word the U.S. Department of Justice might indict Zarate on undetermined federal charges, and a sixth deportation looks likely.
Still, this verdict is not sitting well with the conservative right. Many view the judgement as possibly politically motivated; perhaps a settling of scores between progressive “open-borders” ideology and President Donald Trump’s anti-immigration platform.
If you recall, Kate Steinle became Trump’s poster child for anti-immigration activism on the 2016 campaign trial. On several occasions, Trump evoked her name in stump speeches, coordinated soundbites in the media, and on Twitter. That’s what make this case so politically charged. Steinle’s death has become a national flashpoint between the progressive and conservative ideologies. The verdict is rekindling the firestorm once again.
Donald Trump wasted no time re-entering the fray by tweeting:
A disgraceful verdict in the Kate Steinle case! No wonder the people of our Country are so angry with Illegal Immigration.
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 1, 2017
The Kate Steinle killer came back and back over the weakly protected Obama border, always committing crimes and being violent, and yet this info was not used in court. His exoneration is a complete travesty of justice. BUILD THE WALL!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 1, 2017
Ultimately, I expect that this verdict will continue to act as a wedge issue for both sides. Liberals will view conservative outrage with contempt by arguing that Zarate was judged by a jury of his peers and found innocent of the major charges. They’ll point out that Zarate isn’t getting off scot-free; he still faces firearms charges and subsequent jail time and deportation. Federal charges might also be forthcoming.
The conservative right won’t be so forgiving. To them, it’s an open-and-shut case with too many chance occurrences to be accidental. Zarate says he “found” a gun under a park bench and he “accidentally” discharged the gun, which just happened to strike a moving target. He then maneuvered to cover his tracks—completely. Regardless, he had already been deported five separate times; why is he even on American soil, and why did sanctuary policy set him free?
For now, the Kate Steinle backlash grows. The feeling will no doubt fester quite a while longer.
