On June 14, a gunman opened fire on a Republican congressional baseball team practicing on a field in Virginia. Five people were injured during the shooting, including Louisiana Rep. Steve Scalise, who spent days in critical condition.
Two Capitol Police special agents have been credited with taking down the shooter and saving Scalise’s life and the lives of others Republican lawmakers who were on the field that day. They have been identified as Crystal Griner and David Bailey. Both were injured in the line of duty.
Please sign this petition demanding that President Trump award Crystal Griner and David Bailey the Presidential Medal of Freedom for their bravery and service! Both Griner and Bailey were part of Scalise’s security detail.
Ironically, the representative who they are tasked with protecting does not use his own power to protect their rights. Scalise is an opponent of LGBT rights, including marriage equality, while Griner is a lesbian in a same-sex marriage. Scalise also reportedly has ties to white supremacist groups, though he has disavowed the ideology since. Both Griner and Bailey are black.
Despite the fact that Rep. Scalise and other GOP lawmakers who were on the field that day actively try to strip Griner and Bailey of their rights every day, these two Capitol Police special agents risked everything to protect them. GOP lawmakers have openly lauded Griner and Bailey for their heroic acts. Sen. Rand Paul has said that he is only alive today because of them, while House Speaker Paul Ryan commended them on the House floor for their “tremendous bravery.”
Special Agents Crystal Griner and David Bailey deserve to be honored. Please sign this petition demanding that President Trump honor them with Presidential Medals of Freedom.