(The Center Square) – Anya Zarutska’s guest appearance at the State of the Union drew an emotional response on Tuesday night.
Relocating to the Charlotte area with her daughter Iryna to escape war in Ukraine, she was invited by second-term Republican President Donald Trump. His 108-minute speech included a fight nationwide to end release of suspects known to be repeat criminals.
Democrats in attendance were criticized heavily for not standing to honor Iryna Zarutska, who was killed in August while on a light rail transit system in Charlotte.
“Not one Democrat stood up to honor and remember Iryna Zarutska,” said Rep. Mark Harris, R-N.C.
“Sickening,” added Stephen Miller, deputy chief of staff for Policy and a Homeland Security advisor in the Trump administration.
“Too many Democrats will defend criminals before they’ll ever defend innocent victims, and tonight, the entire nation saw exactly that,” Rep. Pat Harrigan, R-N.C., said of the moment when the mother shed a tear and most of the chamber stood. “No words, no standing, nothing. Says everything you need to know about where their priorities lie.”
The second State of the Union since his return to the White House marked a second consecutive invite to a North Carolinian by Trump. A year ago, he invited Payton McNabb and spotlighted his agenda to protect women’s sports from intrusion by boys.
Other North Carolina guests on Tuesday included:
• North Carolina Supreme Court Justice Anita Earls, a founder of the Southern Coalition for Social Justice, guest of Rep. Deborah Ross, D-N.C.
• Steve Freeman, chief of the Bat Cave Fire Department, guest of Sen. Ted Budd, R-N.C.
• Nathanael Simmons, 17-year-old senior at Mattamuskeet High, guest of Rep. Don Davis, D-N.C.
• Matt Van Swol, former nuclear scientist for the U.S. Department of Energy, guest of Rep. Pat Harrigan, R-N.C.
• Billy Walkowiak, CEO of Collision Safety Consultants, guest of Rep. Tim Moore, R-N.C.
