In Arkansas, Police Chief Lang Holland resigned from his job after posting messages that appeared as calls for violence on social media. The messages were in support of violence against the Democrats.
Residents of Arkansas and the entire United States have been outraged over Lang Holland’s online comments in the past few days. Being the police chief of Marshall in Arkansas, Lang had repeatedly shared messages, which implied the killing of Democrats. He supported his posts with memes that urged that the elections be stolen.
Holland used a social media platform known as “Parler” to share inciting posts and images. One of such images showed some Democrats dressed in prison jumpsuits. The image had pictures of Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton in it.
There was also a post that read: “When this over and Trump is president for 4 more years, do not forget what these Marxist bastards have tried to do. When you see one in public get in their face do not give them any peace. Throw water on them at restaurants. Push them off sidewalks. Never let them forget they are traitors and have no right to live in this Republic after what they have done.”
The Parler account used by Holland to make the provocative posts has since been set to private. The posts were also retweeted on other social media platforms like Reddit and Twitter. Journalists have not been able to reach Holland for comments on the situation.
In a statement issued on Saturday, the Mayor of Marshall, Kevin Elliott, revealed that Lang Holland had stepped down as police chief with immediate effect. He said, “The City of Marshall strongly condemns the actions of Mr. Holland in his posts to social media. The Marshall community does not in any way support or condone bullying or threats of violence to anyone of any political persuasion…the Marshall Police force is here to serve and protect EVERYONE.”
Mayor Elliott, who said he was astonished by the entire situation, said his phone had been ringing non-stop as people have been calling out of concern after seeing the posts all over social media. The Mayor, who described Holland as a brave police chief who has served the United States well, said that the social media comments were disproportionate. He added that such statements were unacceptable in the city of Marshall, irrespective of anyone’s political inclination.
Former police Chief Lang Holland had earlier in the year been in the news for refusing to implement the state of Arkansas coronavirus mask mandate.
Source: nbcnews.com
