Maryland state official fired after sharing posts supporting alleged Kenosha shooter

One meme read, “Don’t be a thug if you can’t take a slug!” Another appeared to show an image of the alleged shooting by Kyle Rittenhouse.

A Maryland man who had been the deputy director of the Governor’s Office of Community Initiatives has been fired from his job for sharing posts supporting alleged Kenosha shooter Kyle Rittenhouse. 

Arthur (Mac) Love IV posted several memes that supported the shooting. One read, “Don’t be a thug if you can’t take a slug!” Another appeared to show an image of the shooting with a caption that read, “When you get to 2nd place in Wisconsin’s annual quick draw competition.” 

Love was let go Saturday afternoon. 

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“These divisive images and statements are inconsistent with the mission and core values of the Office of Community Initiatives,” said Steven J. McAdams. “Earlier today, I relieved this employee of his duties. Kevin Craft, administrative director of the Governor’s Commission on African Affairs, will assume these duties effective immediately.”

McAdams is the executive director of the Governor’s Office of Community Initiatives. 

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A spokesperson for Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan released a statement supporting the firing. “These posts are obviously totally inappropriate,” she said. “We fully support the immediate actions taken by Director McAdams to address this matter.”

Maryland Matters reported that Love is a “seasoned Republican” who had been posting images supporting the shooting for days. Another image featured a photo of actor Leonardo DiCaprio raising a glass of champagne in the 2013 film, The Great Gatsby, captioned: “When you see a skateboard wielding Antifa chickens*** get smoked by an AR toting 17-yr-old.”

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Darryl Barnes, the chairman of Maryland’s Legislative Black Caucus, said that Love’s posts were disturbing. “There’s no sense for it,” Barnes said. “There’s no reason someone like this should be part of our state government.”

Rittenhouse, the accused Kenosha assailant, shot three people Tuesday, killing two, during protests about the Aug. 23 shooting of Jacob Blake by Officer Rusten Sheskey. Rittenhouse, who is being portrayed as a right-wing hero, is currently facing felony murder charges. 

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