YOU JUST LOST A FOLLOWER, LIBT*RD

Someone messaged this when I recently explained the use on deadly force by officers in relation to the tragedy of Minneapolis on my personal Facebook page and shared a video the shooting on my instagram stories. As some of you know, before I did comedy, I was a lawyer who defended municipalities and police officers in civil lawsuits. And as part of that work, I handled dozens and dozens of excessive force cases as well as deadly force cases. I handled more cases on the use of deadly force than all the lawyers in the Trump Administration, including Pam Bondi and JC Vance. I argued (and won) cases before Supreme Court Justice Amy Coney Barrett when she in the 7th Circuit. So I happen to know a lot about the use of deadly force and feel that my insight is useful and beneficial to my followers. Sadly, some people view this as political bias, which is ironic because for fifteen years, I defended police officers, I did not sue them. 

I used to avoid mentioning any politics for fear of losing followers but now I think its important to express my opinions.. If someone is going to be triggered by my explanation of the law and criticizing the government for essentially gaslighting the country about the law and facts we all saw with our own eyes, then they don’t deserve to see my comedy. Ironically, I was not a liberal and while I am not a fan of this President, I was once a Republican with a poster of Ronald Reagan on my wall in junior high (right next to my poster of the band The Police and a picture of a Porsche)

I have a friend who is a filmmaker and when he posts about movies, I love to read his insight. I have friends (and family) who are doctors so when they update me on health issues, especially during the pandemic, I wanted to learn. I feel that way about my knowledge of the law, at least in certain areas where I had experience. Same with music as a musician and of course comedy. I have a thirst for knowledge and if people choose tribalism over learning or engaging in meaningful conversation, they are choosing not to grow. If people don’t agree with me, I love to discuss issues with them and as long as they don’t call me names or attack people without facts or reasoning, I will engage. I don’t think cutting people off who disagree with you is a way to grow, unless those people are actively promoting hate and crime. 

For those of you on the far right or far left, listen to each other. Learn, engage. teach. Don’t blindly follow power and lastly, don’t unfollow. #standup #formerlawyer #lawyer