‘Delulu for Lulu': Inside the circus at Luigi Mangione's court hearing — where supporters want to be heard, but not seen
Not that many of the 20 or so supporters would speak to the press.
Most wore Covid masks, along with hoods and shades — anything to obscure their identities. A pair of young women, looking like radical-chic versions of Jackie O, donned printed silk scarves over their heads and oversized sunglasses.
9 The line of Luigi Mangione supporters outside of 40 Centre Street Friday. Some had camped out overnight.
James Keivom
One gal whined that she didn't want her employer to see her in any photos.
When trying to engage with these people, I was met with death stares. The lone man in the gaggle told me to 'move on.'
They want to be counted, but not identified. That's conviction for you.
John McIntosh, who was fifth in line to get into the courthouse at 40 Centre Street, spent the night outside — hoping to sell his prime spot to a desperate Luigi fan for $350. No takers. 'I should have dropped the price to $50,' he said.
9 Chelsea Manning lined up with supporters of Luigi Mangione outside the federal courthouse in Manhattan.
James Keivom
9 A fan of Luigi Mangione toted a sign but refused to give interviews about her support of the alleged murderer.
James Keivom
Chelsea Manning, who served time for giving classified US military documents to WikiLeaks, was on hand, wearing a pinstriped suit and tie and waiting patiently. Manning, who also showed up at a previous Mangione hearing, declined to give an interview and would only say, 'I'm here as a citizen … I'm here to observe court proceedings.'
Then a protest, organized by the activist group People over Profit, broke out in opposition to prosecutors filing a notice Thursday night about seeking the death penalty in the case.
A woman dressed like Luigi from 'Super Mario Brothers' paraded around smiling — until any journalist asked a question. 'No interviews!' she barked.
9 An artist who goes by Chaos V traveled from New Hampshire to perform her original song, 'Delulu for Lulu' last week.
Kirsten Fleming/NY Post
Nadine Seiler came from Maryland to hold a banner spray painted with the message 'Luigi before Fascists.' Yoel Friedman, an Orthodox Jewish man from Monroe, New York, wore a sign across his back that read 'Deny Delay Depose' and advertised his website.
'I support Luigi…He did the right thing. He opened the eyes of the people to talk about this,' Friedman said, meaning health insurance. When asked if the murder of United Healthcare CEO Brian Thompson was justified, he said 'Yes.'
Chilling words, even on a sunny spring day.
Thompson was not only murdered in cold blood but, in death, the father of two is being vilified over and over like he was healthcare's Hitler, systematically and intentionally killing people from his corner office.
9 Yoel Friedman traveled from Monroe, New York, to support Liugi Mangione.
James Keivom
'These are good people, smart people,' said artist Jarva Land, who showed up to sketch Mangione's fans — and, hopefully, his eyebrows — in court. 'These are people you want participating in democracy and justice in our country. They're not crazy fangirls, and maybe they're going to change the world.'
I believe they already have, by endorsing the execution of the powerful. Where does the justification stop?
Last Friday, a handful of fans also showed up at the courthouse even though Mangione's appearance had been canceled. One, a New Hampshire resident who called herself Chaos V, put on an impromptu concert to perform her original song, 'Delulu for Lu Lu.'
9 Luigi Mangione, seen here in February, appeared in court Friday on federal charges in the murder of Brian Thompson. He also faces state charges.
AP
'I hope he's locked up with me,' she sang. 'And they throw away the key.'
It was written, she told me, while she laid in a hospital bed with an unspecified stomach issue. She believes women aren't treated well by the medical industry.
'Murder is not just, obviously, but I really can't feel that bad when you are killing that many people,' she said. She denied Mangione's looks inspired her techno masterpiece, but her friend interjected to add that other fans 'think he's hot. Just saying.'
The accused's looks are a sensitive subject all around. I was approached by a 26-year-old California native, who was eager to speak but not on the record. She was disheartened by the media calling Mangione supporters love-struck ladies.
9 Nadine Seiler traveled from Maryland to support Luigi Mangione, saying, 'I don't condone him killig anybody but I do say what he did brought light to what is going on in the healthcare system.'
James Keivom
9 Some supporters held signs featuring quotes from Mangione.
James Keivom
'I'm a lesbian,' she said. 'I don't care about his looks.'
It's his actions that have sparked an overdue conversation, she added.
She asked if I felt that peaceful protest was the answer, and I said yes. Then she hit me with it: 'I've been a climate activist since I was 15, and nothing has changed.'
That's the thing. A large portion of young Americans — through schools, social media and the celebrities they follow — have been fed a steady diet of injustice porn. And sold activism as salvation.
They saw a young Greta Thunberg exalted. They were promised urgent results if only they spoke up and organized.
9 'I hope he's locked up with me,' Chaos V sang outside the courthouse last week. 'And they throw away the key.'
Kirsten Fleming/NY Post
While this girl was polite, curious and even sweet, I found her words as disturbing as Mr. Friedman's.
Yes, there are real issues in the healthcare system that need to be addressed.
But this is a dangerous mindset, to believe that, when people cannot be swayed with reason, pivoting to violence is not only justified — it's righteous. To believe that the powers that be will bend at the threat of bloodshed.
That's not democracy, that's terrorism.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
New York Post
29 minutes ago
- New York Post
Fundraiser to fulfill tragic security guard's ‘wish' for his kids after he's killed in NYC mass shooting
A fundraiser for the children of security guard gunned down in last week's mass shooting in Midtown Manhattan has topped $60,000 — as kin hailed him as 'a pillar of strength' for his family. Aland Etienne, 46, was among four people killed by gun-toting maniac Shane Tamura at 345 Park Ave. on July 28, leaving his family and school-aged kids without a provider, the gofundme site said. 'Aland was more than just a colleague or friend — he was light in every room, a pillar of strength for his family, and the kind of father every child dreams of,' the site said. 'He leaves behind two beautiful children who were his entire world. Advertisement 3 Aland Etienne, 46, was a doting dad and a beloved fixture at 345 Park Ave. before tragedy struck. Obtained by the NY Post 'His deepest wish was to give them the future they deserve.' Etienne was on duty when Tamura stormed in, killing him, Blackstone executive Wesley LePatner and NYPD Police Officer Didarul Islam, before taking the elevator to the 33rd floor. Advertisement There, he opened fire on cleaning woman Sebije Nelovic, who managed to duck into a closet, before he shot and killed 27-year-old Rudin Management associate Julia Hyman — then killed himself. 3 Tragic victims, clockwise from top left — Wesley LePatner, Aland Etienne, NYPD officer Didarul Islam, Julia Hyman. Blackstone; Facebook; Obtained; Linkedin 3 Shane Tamura, a deranged Las Vegas security guard, stormed into 345 Park Ave. with an AR-15 assault rifle July 28. Obtained by the NY Post Advertisement Etienne has a son who celebrated his 7th birthday just days after the tragedy, and an older daughter, According to sources. He was a beloved fixture at the Midtown skyscraper, the sources said. Shamura, a disgruntled Las Vegas security guard, was targeting NFL offices in the building over perceived CTE injuries from playing high school football — but went to the wrong floor. Funerals for the slain hero cop, a married 36-year-old father of two who had been on the force for four years; LePatner, the married mom of two; and Hyman, a Cornell graduate, were held last week.
New York Post
an hour ago
- New York Post
Media still undercounting return-to-office phenomenon
The media continues to absurdly undercount, downplay or misunderstand the return-to-office phenomenon, although the surge should be obvious from the current leasing frenzy and from crowds on the street. For example, Crain's last week questioned whether the 345 Park Ave. murders would 'impact the city's already stagnant return-to-office rates.' The story based its 'stagnant' claim partly on the Partnership for New York City's supposed finding that only '57% of Manhattan office workers had returned on the average workday.' 3 The Midtown shooting happened at 345 Park Ave. AFP via Getty Images 3 An NYPD police officer stands at the shattered glass entrance to 345 Park Avenue after the shooting. John Angelillo/UPI/Shutterstock 3 NYC office capacity was never full — even during pre-COVID times. Tierney – That — like many similar off-base readings of data — made it sound as if Manhattan offices that were full before 2020 are now barely more than half full. What the Partnership actually said in March was that 57% of workers in offices at the time 'equates to 76% of respondents' pre-pandemic attendance.' In other words, pre-pandemic offices were not 100% occupied — they never were — but 75% occupied. That's because 57 is 76% of 75. The 19% difference between 76% and 57% is much less than an alleged 43% gap between 100% and 57%. And with so many CEO's calling their staffs back, the 19% gap can only continue to shrink further.
San Francisco Chronicle
15 hours ago
- San Francisco Chronicle
S.F. man slain at Muni stop an avid cyclist with a ‘strong sense of what's right and wrong'
Many people would have looked away. But Colden Kimber could not. The 28-year-old student noticed a man ranting at a group of women and children standing at a busy train stop in San Francisco's Ingleside neighborhood. 'You think you are better than me,' the man taunted. 'You are scared of me.' So Kimber, a towering former hockey goalie at 6 feet 4, stepped between them. Then, without a word, the man plunged a 6-inch knife into Kimber's neck as he turned to glance at an arriving train, prosecutors said. With his girlfriend standing behind him, Kimber tried to restrain the man. Seconds later, as blood poured from his neck, Kimber stopped moving, according to court records. Surgeons at San Francisco General Hospital tried to save him. 'I'm sorry he didn't make it,' Lara Litchfield-Kimber, Kimber's mom, recalled one of them speaking into the phone. 'It's like a fever dream, where it's not reality.' Police arrested Sean Collins, 29, who officers said was covered in blood, a few blocks away from the stabbing last Saturday. He was charged with murder in connection with Kimber's killing at Ocean and Lee avenues. Two children, ages 8 and 14, witnessed the stabbing, prosecutors said, adding that Muni cameras captured the attack. Kimber, an avid cyclist who grew up in central New York, was finishing his degree in kinesiology, the study of human movement, at San Francisco State University. He discovered his love of cycling when his mom, who was fighting breast cancer, dropped out of a triathlon in New York and he took her place. 'He had never ridden a bike on a road,' she said. 'The bikes were the things that stuck.' After moving to San Francisco with his girlfriend in June 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic, Kimber joined the Dolce Vita Cycling team and a semiprofessional ice hockey team based in Vacaville. Some evenings he rode his bike at the Polo Field in Golden Gate Park, where he held cycling records on the social fitness app Strava. An intense athlete, Kimber racked up 12,000 to 13,000 miles on his bike some years. 'People would say, 'I had a Colden sighting,' but it wasn't that rare because he was always on his bike,' Litchfield-Kimber said. When he was off his bike, he had a knack for building and fixing them. As a part-time bike mechanic and salesperson at American Cyclery in the Haight, 'he was a 'gear guy' who could take the most complicated bike and put it together — without a manual,' Litchfield-Kimber said. Friends and family say Kimber worked out seven days a week, ate well and never drank. 'He was letting his own body be his own living laboratory,' Litchfield-Kimber said. 'He collected data on his own training. He was very into understanding the sociology behind sports performance.' Bradley Woehl, owner of American Cyclery, recalled Kimber as 'a driven, motivated guy' with a 'strong sense of what's right and wrong.' A memorial ride in Kimber's honor is planned at the Polo Field in Golden Gate Park on Sept. 7. Collins is scheduled to be arraigned in mid-August. 'This whole thing is a tragedy, there's no excuse for what happened. Only in the darkest recesses of his mind, perhaps he knows he did what he did. But it also appears he blocked out the incident. This is not a 'whodunit,'' said Bill Fazio, Collins' attorney. 'I'll be looking into having him examined to see if psychiatrists can help me understand what happened. This case depresses me, because it shouldn't have happened.' A GoFundMe to support Kimber's family had raised more than $76,000 toward its $90,000 goal as of Saturday night.
