'Unfit To Serve': Democrats Renew Push To Impeach Joe Gale

JEFFERSONVILLE, PA — Local Democratic lawmakers and demonstrators gathered in West Norriton on Thursday in a renewed push to impeach Montgomery County Commissioner Joe Gale over his remarks on the Black Lives Matter organization and protest movement back in June.

The event was organized by local activist group PA Women Rise and included several members of the Pennsylvania Legislative Black Caucus, including State Rep. Stephen Kinsey (D-Philadelphia), the group's chair, and State Rep. Joe Webster (D-Montgomery). Webster introduced a motion to impeach Gale in the state legislature.

“In our quest to free our communities of hate, we must condemn actors like Commissioner Gale who used his official capacity to perpetuate hate by vilifying residents’ calls for equality and justice,” Kinsey said Thursday “Instead of being an active agent of change in upholding those calls, Gale chose to side with the powers of oppression. His actions demonstrate his complacency with injustice, making him unfit to serve the public, and for that, Gale must be removed immediately.”

The event took place indoors at the West Norriton Municipal Center. It was moved from the Montgomery County Courthouse steps, the usual gathering place, due to the weather.

It's just the latest organized movement against Gale, who has been under fire since he published a letter on county stationary calling Black Lives Matter a hate group that had manufactured claims of racial injustice.

"(Black Lives Matter) screams racism not to expose bigotry and injustice, but to justify the lawless destruction of our cities and surrounding communities," Gale wrote. "Their objective is to unleash chaos and mayhem without consequence by falsely claiming they, in fact, are the victims."

Gale has declined to walk back the comments in the wake of calls from numerous local agencies and leaders, including nine mayors in the county, the other two county commissioners, and state legislators to do so. Instead, he's doubled-down.

There is an effort in both chambers of the state to remove Gale: House Resolution 920 and Senate Resolution 334. However, neither has yet been put on the floor to start proceedings.

"There is no excuse, only action," Rep. Webster said Thursday. "There is no time for diversion and deliberate misinformation. It is time to recognize Black Lives Matter in all things, so all of Pennsylvania can move forward."

There is no indication whether Republicans in the state legislature will hear proceedings on the resolutions.

In addition to Webster and Kinsey, State Reps. Margo Davidson (D-Delaware), and Patty Kim (D-Dauphin) took part in the event. They were joined by representatives from Norristown Young Scholars and the Woori Center, in addition to other area activists.