Luigi Mangione’s Supporters Advocate Violence, Deify Alleged Attacker as Legal Defense Fund Swells
The case surrounding Luigi Mangione, the 26-year-old former Ivy League student accused of stalking and shooting Brian Thompson, a UnitedHealthcare CEO and father of two, has taken a disturbing turn as some of his vocal supporters are now openly advocating for violence against other healthcare executives, even suggesting that Elon Musk should be targeted.
Mangione is facing serious charges stemming from an incident in early December where he allegedly shot Thompson in the back outside a shareholder conference. Investigators have described the alleged attack as a premeditated and cold-blooded act.
Lionel McGloin, a comedian and journalist known for his "The Real Big Lie" persona, recently engaged with pro-Mangione protesters outside the Manhattan State Supreme Court, where Mangione appeared for a pretrial hearing on February 21. The interactions, captured on video, reveal a disturbing undercurrent of animosity towards healthcare CEOs and a willingness to condone, or even encourage, further acts of violence.
One woman, professing to be suffering from "Luigi fever," went so far as to suggest that Elon Musk, who has significant investments in healthcare through Neuralink and other ventures, should be killed. This alarming statement highlights the extreme sentiments circulating within some segments of Mangione’s support base.
McGloin further probed the protesters, questioning whether other healthcare CEOs "deserved to be murdered." While one protester qualified their response by stating that only "corrupt" executives should be "unalived," another shockingly claimed that Mangione "did what needed to be done." When McGloin asked if what Mangione did was "good," a young woman replied, "It’s great, actually. I believe we should do more." This blatant endorsement of violence is deeply troubling.
Adding to the unsettling nature of the protests, two individuals equated Mangione to Martin Luther King Jr., proclaiming him to be a political prisoner who deserves support. This comparison is particularly jarring given the violent nature of the alleged crime and the stark contrast with King’s philosophy of nonviolent resistance.
The video also features an interview with a woman who served 26 months in prison for DUI negligent homicide. The woman claimed to have been under the influence of alcohol and crashed into a shopping cart, which in turn struck a man who later died in the hospital. She argued that anyone who goes to prison is a "victim first," a perspective that McGloin sarcastically amplified by suggesting that perhaps the shopping cart was to blame for the tragedy.
The rise in support for Mangione, despite the serious charges he faces, is further evidenced by the surge in donations to his legal defense fund. It has now surpassed $500,000, with over $200,000 raised in the past 10 days. Some proponents have even gone as far as describing him as a "humanitarian," a label that seems incongruous with the alleged crime.
Mangione is currently facing three separate criminal proceedings in New York, Pennsylvania, and federal court. The outcome of these cases will undoubtedly have significant implications, not only for Mangione himself but also for the broader debate surrounding healthcare costs, corporate accountability, and the potential for political violence.
The willingness of some individuals to condone violence against healthcare executives, and even glorify Mangione’s alleged actions, raises serious concerns about the potential for further acts of aggression and the erosion of civil discourse. The statements made by these protesters, captured on video by McGloin, offer a chilling glimpse into the mindset of those who see violence as a legitimate means of achieving political or social change. The implications of this developing situation for the future of discourse in the United States cannot be understated. The need to address extreme ideologies and violence is more apparent than ever.
