A local union leader is calling on Pennsylvania state Rep. Danielle Friel Otten to resign after she likened union members working on the Mariner East pipeline to Nazis. The freshman lawmaker made the alarming comparison in a tweet following her participation in a weekend protest that briefly halted construction on a section of the project.
“Not only did she break the law on Saturday by blocking a road with her cronies, she also put the men and women who were working on the project in harms way. But that is not what has angered me to the point of calling for her resignation,” wrote Jim Snell, business manager for Steamfitters Local 420, in a Facebook post. “It was her insensitive, disgusting Tweet comparing my members of Local 420 to “Nazis.””
Snell goes on to emphasize the diverse backgrounds of the women and men who make up Local 420’s membership.
“My members, Ms. Friel Otten, for your information, are Little League coaches, church volunteers, Boys & Girl Scout leaders, volunteer firefighters, NOT “Nazis!” Shame on you Representative Friel Otten!”
Local media outlets like the Delaware County Daily Times, West Chester Daily Local and NPR’s StateImpact have traditionally been quick to run stories about the pipeline. Even stories light on the facts, but more to propel anti-pipeline activists rhetoric.
Just yesterday, the Daily Local reposted what appears to be a press release from the protestors. Blatantly clear was the lack of any balance in the piece and definitely no mention of the “Nazi” comparison.
So why the silence on such a disgusting comparison worthy of nobody? Otten’s comments crossed a line that no elected representative or individual should cross, but then again, she spent the following days, along with her cohorts on the fringes of society justifying it.
And nothing from the media. Their silence rings loud.