The Sheriff of our Ruby-Red County Apparently Invited Violence Against "No Kings" Protesters

...but 2000 showed up in little (and historic) Gettysburg anyway

For almost three years now we have lived in a 55+ community just outside Gettysburg, PA. It sits at the heart of rural Adams County, and serves as the county seat. It is deep red politically, although in the 2024 presidential election it was one of the just 10% of US counties that turned bluer (just slightly — Trump still got 66% of the votes).

Yet last Saturday — No Kings Day — an estimated 2,000 turned out to exercise their firt amendment rights in a peacefull and orderly fashion, as many of them have been doing for an hour every Saturday (noon till 1pm) since April under a valid permit issued by the borough. There have been no incidents or disorder. Just determination and camaraderie.

Most would not learn until later that their elected Sheriff had called for them to be run down in a Facebook post…

…I guess there is doubt whether this was a real threat or a really poor attempt at …humor? It hasn’t gone over very well. (Adams County Sheriff faces backlash over blood-splattered “Protester Edition” truck meme — ABC News.)

Many are calling for his resignation. The Adams County Democratic committee issued this statement:

Adams County Democratic Committee is appalled by the shocking image posted on social media by Adams County Sheriff James Muller on Saturday, June 14. The image featured an apparently bloodied vehicle with the implication that it had plowed through a group of peaceful citizens demonstrating their First Amendment right of assembly. The post appears to condone, and thereby incite, politically motivated violence.

Sheriff Muller's action violates his duties, as listed on the Adams County Sheriff’s Office website: “To provide first-class professional, dignified, and courteous service to the citizens of the county. [to] serve with integrity and distinction and [a duty to] uphold the trust of the public we serve.”

Sheriff Muller’s action proves he no longer represents the people who voted for him and is not a role model for his department. He has shown disrespect for the citizens of Adams County.

We are disappointed in the public statement from two of the Adams County Commissioners. The statement does not condemn the actions of the sheriff nor provide any repercussions for those actions.

The Adams County Democratic Committee demands that Sheriff Muller immediately offer a public apology, not only to the citizens present on Saturday, June 14, but to every citizen who has ever participated in a rally to express opinions and beliefs.

We demand his immediate resignation. Sheriff Muller has forfeited his right to remain in office until the end of his term.

If Sheriff Muller refuses to resign, we demand the Adams County Commissioners and the Court of Common Pleas to explore all avenues to sanction Sheriff Muller and help quell the spread of this violent ideology within his department.

Even as this disgusting meme was being posted by the sheriff, we learned that two Minnesota lawmakers and their spouses had been shot (and two killed) by a right-wing zealot posing as a police officer acting out just the kind of fantasy Sheriff Muller was posting….and even more fantastically, a US Senator — a professed Mormon — was lying about it in an apparent attempt at propaganda.

This is an evil political party we are contending with. No other way to say it.