A tweet has put a local lawmaker in hot water.
First-term State Representative Aaron Bernstine reacted on Twitter late Saturday night following the acquittal of a former police officer accused of murdering a black man in St. Louis.
Bernstine tweeted “If anyone EVER tires to stop my car on a highway with negative intentions…I will not stop under any conditions.” He also linked to an article about protesters shutting down streets.
By Sunday afternoon, Bernstine’s tweet had more than 2,000 responses and had been retweeted over 200 times.
State Democrats called on Bernstine to apologize for his remarks, citing the lawmaker should not have to be reminded that the right to peaceably assemble is fundamental to our democracy.
Bernstine represents the 10th legislative district, which includes Slippery Rock borough and township in Butler County.