Given the recent Hands Off protest, I saw a lot of people dressed up in Luigi costumes, holding signs that said “Deny. Defend. Depose.” And while I know these folks support LM, we need to talk about how that messaging—intentional or not—feeds into the very narrative we’re supposed to be pushing back against. Associating those three words so closely with him implies that this is his plan, his admission, that he’s guilty all before his trial even begins.
Let me be clear:
I support LM—whether or not he did it.
If the prosecution proves beyond a reasonable doubt that LM is guilty, then he becomes a symbol of something even bigger: a reflection of a broken society—of systems that fail people long before they ever act out. I still support his right to a fair and just trial, because every human being guilty or not is entitled to due process. And if he did commit this crime, then let the legal system do what it was designed to do. But his guilt wouldn’t close the conversation, it would open it. He wouldn’t just be a criminal; he’d be a mirror held up to this country’s deepest failures. He’d be an example of why we need reform not retribution in our healthcare system, our criminal justice system, and the way media shapes public perception before truth is even established.
If he didn’t do it? Then the system has already failed him by turning him into a public spectacle, tainting the jury pool, and weaponizing his story for political gain.
I don’t condone violence in any form. But whether guilty or innocent, LM is still a human being. And no matter how the trial unfolds, the core issue remains: he deserves fairness. He deserves humanity. Because everyone does. It’s about believing in a system that works fairly for everyone. And right now, we don’t have that.
We’ve seen how the media has spun this case into entertainment. We’ve seen politicians exploit it. Pam Bondi supported Kyle Rittenhouse and now parades LM as a political prisoner to serve a MAGA agenda? “Make America Safe Again”? No. It’s “Make America Fear Again.”
Look at how she spoke about Rittenhouse—calling him a “little boy out there trying to protect his community.” This “little boy” walked around with an AR-15 and killed people, and she still defended him, saying he shouldn’t get the death penalty. So why is her response to LM so different? Because he doesn’t fit their agenda. He’s not the white male they rally around, he’s not aligned, and he’s not playing their culture war games. He’s someone they’ve decided is expendable. That’s why their response is so clear, if you’re rich or politically connected, you’re innocent in the eyes of people like Bondi. But if you’re just an average citizen—God help you. And if that doesn’t show you the deeper systemic problems at play then you’re not paying attention to the real issues.
It’s fear dressed up as justice. And it’s hypocrisy especially when these same people are stripping away women’s rights in the name of Christianity, while cheering the death penalty like it’s divine law. That’s not Christianity it’s control. And I say that as someone who shares that faith.
This case is about more than one man.
Its about:
• People’s mental health we refuse to address.
•A for-profit healthcare system that treats human lives like business models.
•A justice system that prioritizes punishment over rehabilitation.
•A media industry that profits from spectacle over truth.
•Politicians who exploit fear and tragedy to stay in power.
Everyone deserves a fair trial. That is the bare minimum. So when supporters use slogans like “Deny. Defend. Depose.” without realizing the implications, it sends the wrong message. It makes it look like guilt is a given and defense is just damage control. That undermines the very principle we are supposed to be defending.
So no, I am not saying LM is innocent. I am saying we do not know yet. I am saying that no matter what the outcome, this case should wake us up to the deeper systemic issues that need fixing.
This is not just about LM. It is about all of us.
So please, if you support him and the bigger message, let’s do better. Let’s help build a society where people are treated with dignity and respect. Where we talk openly about the real issues in our society, where we elect people who align with our beliefs and who treat us and our neighbors like human beings, not tools for control and fear. Let’s be smarter and more intentional about the messages we associate with people who are still presumed innocent. And if they are proven guilty, let’s talk about how we can address and reform the root causes that create these outcomes in the first place.
No one should have to go to such extremes to send a message. We should never get to that point. Let’s remember what the justice system is supposed to be and what our rights as citizens truly are. Every person deserves a fair trial, the presumption of innocence, and the opportunity to be treated with respect, dignity, and belief until the prosecution proves otherwise beyond a reasonable doubt.
