Maryland Gov. Wes Moore dismissed claims by Republicans who say the collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore last week was in some way partly due to diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) policies.
Some right-wing critics have hurtled attacks at Moore and Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott over the bridge’s collapse, claiming that DEI policies were to blame for the tragic incident. The bridge collapsed dramatically last week when a cargo ship crashed into the pillars, leading to the deaths of six people.
In one example of such accusations, Republican Utah State Rep. Phil Lyman wrote on X, formerly Twitter, that “this is what happens when you have Governors who prioritize diversity over the wellbeing and security of citizens.”
Maryland Gov. Moore joined CNN’s Dana Bash for an interview on Sunday’s State of the Union, where he brushed off Lyman’s comments as “foolishness.”
He told Bash he is far too busy worry about the bridge collapse and aftermath to spend time on such claims, and even after Bash asked him directly if people making the complaint are being racist, he declined to give it any attention.
Bash brought up the response by Baltimore Mayor Scott was very direct in his own response to the accusations last week, saying that those who are saying it are using it as a substitute for a racist slur.
“We know what they want to say, but they don’t have the courage to say the N-word,” said Scott on MSNBC.
MOORE: My response is, I have no time for foolishness! I’m locked in. I’m making sure that we can get closure and comfort to these families. I’m making sure that we’re going to keep our first responders safe who are doing heroic work. I’m making sure that we are going to open up this channel and be able to get boats and ships and get our economic engine going again. I’m making sure that we’re taking care of our people to include our first responders and families and small businesses who have been impacted by this. And I’m making sure that we are going to get the Key Bridge rebuilt. I have no time for foolishness, and so I’m not going to delve into it.
BASH: You call it foolishness. The mayor of Baltimore seemed to go in a different direction. He is black, and he was described in an online post that got millions of views as the DEI mayor. He responded by saying, we know what they want to say, but they don’t have the courage to say the N-word. Is this racism?
MOORE: My focus on making sure these families are getting the comfort and the closure that they need. Making sure that our first responders are getting the supports that they need. Making sure we can get these channels open and making sure that we can get this bridge rebuilt. I frankly do not have time to be able to deal with anything else. I’m locked in and I’m focused on what matters right now.
Watch the clip above via CNN.
