GOP Lawmaker In Hot Water Over Violent 'All Livers Splatter' Meme

Ed Mazza
Updated
A post shared by South Dakota state lawmaker Lynne DiSanto. (Photo: South Dakota Democratic Party)
A post shared by South Dakota state lawmaker Lynne DiSanto. (Photo: South Dakota Democratic Party)

A Republican lawmaker in South Dakota is coming under fire for posting a violent cartoon meme showing a car slamming into people along with the phrase “ALL LIVES SPLATTER.”

Rep. Lynne DiSanto, the Republican whip in the state’s House of Representatives, wrote: “I think this is a movement we can all support.”

The tasteless post, which was later deleted, cost DiSanto her job as a real estate agent.

“Due to recent events, Lynne Disanto is no longer associated with Keller Williams Realty Black Hills,” the company wrote on Facebook.

However, House Majority Leader Lee Qualm told the Argus Leader newspaper that DiSanto was not in danger of losing her whip position.

“Obviously I think she wishes she had not put it out there, but she was quick to pull it down and it seems like one of those things you do without putting much thought into it,” Qualm told the newspaper.

The Sept. 7 post came less than a month after Heather Heyer was killed. She was run over on Aug. 12 while protesting against white supremacists in Charlottesville, Virginia.

DiSanto also apologized, but only to people who took offense to her post. She defended the image itself as a cautionary lesson.

“I am sorry if people took offense to it and perceived my message in any way insinuating support or condoning people being hit by cars,” DiSanto told the Rapid City Journal. “I perceived it differently. I perceived it as encouraging people to stay out of the street.”

Others disagreed with that interpretation.

“To put up a meme that pretty much encourages violence and possibly murder, that’s inappropriate,” Lori Miller, a spokeswoman for the group Indivisible Rapid City, told the Argus Leader. “She’s a community leader and an elected official.”

“The right to peaceably assemble is fundamental to our democracy ― so fundamental, in fact, it is included in the First Amendment to our Constitution,” South Dakota Democratic Party Executive Director Sam Parkinson said in a news release.

He described the image as “offensive and beneath the dignity of the office Rep. DiSanto holds.”

Last week, a sheriff’s department in Washington was forced to apologize after sharing the same meme.

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A man wears a purple ribbon to remember Heather Heyer, who was killed protesting during a white supremacist rally, as he arrives for her memorial service at the Paramount Theater in Charlottesville, Virginia, on Aug. 16, 2017.
A man wears a purple ribbon to remember Heather Heyer, who was killed protesting during a white supremacist rally, as he arrives for her memorial service at the Paramount Theater in Charlottesville, Virginia, on Aug. 16, 2017.
The Paramount Theater marquee bears the name of Heather Heyer. 
The Paramount Theater marquee bears the name of Heather Heyer. 
Heather Heyer's mother, Susan Bro, walks by a picture of her daughter after speaking at her memorial service.
Heather Heyer's mother, Susan Bro, walks by a picture of her daughter after speaking at her memorial service.
Mourners gather inside the Paramount Theater. 
Mourners gather inside the Paramount Theater. 
Heather Heyer's father, Mark Heyer, speaks at her memorial service.
Heather Heyer's father, Mark Heyer, speaks at her memorial service.
Mourners inside the Paramount Theater wear purple, as Heyer's family had requested. Purple was her favorite color.
Mourners inside the Paramount Theater wear purple, as Heyer's family had requested. Purple was her favorite color.
People line up to attend the memorial service. 
People line up to attend the memorial service. 
Marcus Martin (center), who was injured in the same car attack that killed Heyer, leaves the memorial service.
Marcus Martin (center), who was injured in the same car attack that killed Heyer, leaves the memorial service.
Anna Quillon hands out purple pieces of cloth outside the memorial service.
Anna Quillon hands out purple pieces of cloth outside the memorial service.
People wore stickers and ribbons to the memorial service. 
People wore stickers and ribbons to the memorial service. 
A poster announcing the memorial service.
A poster announcing the memorial service.
Mia Jones shows off the "NO H8" message written on her hands.
Mia Jones shows off the "NO H8" message written on her hands.
Outside the service, people carry guns to provide security in the event of far-right protesters.
Outside the service, people carry guns to provide security in the event of far-right protesters.
A person tapes a note to the front door of a bookstore to announce that it will close during the memorial service for Heather Heyer.
A person tapes a note to the front door of a bookstore to announce that it will close during the memorial service for Heather Heyer.
A man puts on a purple ribbon while waiting in line. 
A man puts on a purple ribbon while waiting in line. 
People carry bats and shields to provide security.
People carry bats and shields to provide security.

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This article originally appeared on HuffPost.