It’s been a few days since President Joe Biden awarded the Medal of Valor to four fallen first responders, and while the occasion was meant to be a solemn one, the viral reaction of Gabina Mora, the mother of one of the recipients, has been anything but.
Mora’s son, Wilbert Mora, and his partner Jason Rivera were gunned down in Harlem in January of 2022 while responding to a family dispute.
Officer Sumit Sulan, who also received a Medal of Valor, shot the gunman. Rivera died hours after the incident while Mora succumbed to his wounds four days later.
Mora’s reaction to Biden’s condolences and the awarding of the Medal of Valor has been seen around the world.
Initially seeming rather disinterested, Mora quickly looked over to Rivera’s widow and rolled her eyes as soon as Biden handed her the medal.
This reaction has sparked a debate of whether or not Biden truly understands and respects the sacrifices made by law enforcement.
After all, Biden’s own party has failed to pass bipartisan, meaningful legislation through the House that would increase funding for law enforcement officials around the country.
Not to mention, Biden’s past has been filled with outspoken anti-law enforcement rhetoric.
“I don’t know all of you, but I do know you,” Biden said during the ceremony. “From small towns to big cities, you’re cut from the same cloth. You run into danger when everyone else runs away from danger.”
“I think one of the hardest jobs in America, what you signed up for,” he added. “You represent the best of who we are as Americans.”
But do Biden’s words truly reflect his actions? It’s hard to believe that he truly respects the sacrifices made by first responders and the law enforcement community when his party has failed to pass legislation that would provide better funding and resources for them.
It’s also hard to believe that Biden respects the law enforcement community when his past is filled with anti-law enforcement rhetoric. To me, everything Biden said at this event is just words.
So, while the awarding of the Medal of Valor was meant to be a solemn occasion, Gabina Mora’s reaction has sparked a debate of whether or not Biden truly understands and respects the sacrifices made by first responders and the law enforcement community. The debate will continue until he and his party can prove they do.