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I’ve always considered the Reading Municipal Light Department (RMLD) to be one of the great resources that exemplifies the best parts of our town’s “local is better” mindset.
Which is why I was surprised recently to see one of their trucks displaying decals that absolutely would not line up with the intended mission of any public service.
Seeing very clearly the “Three Percenters” symbol emblazoned on top of a “Punisher Trump” decal with text reading “MAGA” below should not ever be considered acceptable for display on a municipal vehicle.
For those who are unaware, the “Three Percenters” are a militia group that views our current government as tyrannical (https://www.adl.org/resources/backgrounder/three-percenters) and that they exist for the job of violently overthrowing it when they decide the time has come. They also believe that they are obligated to step in and use violence when they believe local law enforcement is not doing the job to their liking.
While the Three Percent movement is not a monolith, members of various chapters have willingly gone on the public record espousing anti-Muslim and anti-immigrant views (https://www.splcenter.org/resources/extremist-files/three-percenters/).
Six members of the Three Percenters were incarcerated on felony charges for their part in the January 6th Capitol riots (https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/justice-department/judge-locks-three-percenter-militia-members-jan-6-obstruction-case-rcna148456).
For those unaware the “Punisher” symbol is from a Marvel comic in which the main character uses murder, torture, kidnapping and violence as acceptable tools for their vigilantism. And while the symbol has been recently co-opted for numerous ill-conceived movements, the merging of it with the likeness of a political figure (Donald Trump in the decal on the RMLD truck) and their associated political slogan sends a very distinct and clear message: those who disagree with them will be met with violence.
This is not representative of the Town of Reading or the RMLD.
It should also be mentioned that Three Percenters actively recruit members from the military (current and former), Law Enforcement, EMS Firefighters and, notably in this case, Public Safety. (https://triad-city-beat.com/first-responders-public-safety-personnel-joined-militia-facebook/)
If it was OK for one RMLD vehicle displaying this offensive iconography to be performing work out in the public in broad daylight then it’s highly unlikely that we’re dealing with “one bad apple” among the bunch.
Please do note that it is every American’s right to believe what they want and to assemble as they please. However using RMLD vehicles as a platform to advertise the group and the employees affiliation in it is unacceptable.
I feel that the RMLD board of directors needs to investigate the culture at the RMLD that has allowed for this Un-American movement to take root in Reading, find out how long and how extensively this has gone on, and what has or hasn’t been done about it. And there needs to be quick and decisive action to remove all elements of it, totally, completely, and without hesitation.
The safety of the public depends on it.
Erick Carpenter
