Illinois Democrat fired for calling Wisconsin Christmas parade tragedy ‘karma’

Illinois Democratic social media director, Mary Lemanski, was fired after calling the deadly Christmas parade rampage in Wisconsin “karma.” Lemanski sparked outrage with social media posts comparing the attack to Kyle Rittenhouse.

In Waukesha, Wisconsin on Sunday, a man drove his SUV through parade-goers, killing six and injuring several dozen, which Lemanski said he did because he “felt threatened” like 17-year-old Kyle Rittenhouse did during the protests in Kenosha last summer when he shot three people.

On her since-deleted page, she tweeted, “It was probably just self-defense,” suggesting the suspect, who was a convicted pedophile with several other charges, “came to help people,” as Rittenhouse said he had done. 

She added, “You reap what you sow. I just believe in Karma and this came around quick on the citizens of Wisconsin,” likely referring to the jury’s acquittal of Rittenhouse last week. Lemanski admitted later that her tweets were “not in good taste” as she apologized to the DuPage Democratic Party on its Facebook page. She also said she had resigned.

The party insisted that it “immediately severed all ties” with Lemanski, its social media director, “once we became aware of her callous and reprehensible posts.” Party chair Ken Mejia-Beal reiterated that Lemanski was “let go” as soon as her tweets were brought to officials. “We 100% do not agree with the words that she used and it was better for her not to be a part of this organization,” he said.

The suspect, Darrell Brooks, 39, has been charged with five counts of first-degree intentional homicide, but the charges may change following the death of a sixth victim. He apparently drove his car into the parade crowd while fleeing another crime. Brooks was set free earlier this month after making $1,000 bail on a domestic violence charge from November 2; He reportedly punched the mother of his child and “ran her over” with his car.