Previous life: Internet celebrity squirrel becomes political episode
The story of Peanut, the internet-famous squirrel, began seven years ago when Mark Longo discovered that Peanut's mother had died in a car accident. Peanut was seriously injured and Longo was worried that he would not survive in the wild, so he decided to take him home to take care of him. Peanut was given a chance to recover and spent seven years with Longo.
In order to let more people know the story of this squirrel, Mark shared Peanut's daily life on Instagram. Over time, Peanut not only attracted a large number of fans, but also became the spokesperson for Longo's animal rescue activities. Longo established an animal rescue fund in the name of Peanut to raise funds for animals in need.
However, the turning point came on October 30. After receiving an anonymous tip, the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) raided Longo's home, forcibly took Peanut away and detained him. Longo later said: "They acted like they were catching terrorists. It was a comprehensive search of my home. My wife was even asked about her immigration status, and when I went to the bathroom, there were police officers accompanying me to check."
In order to get Peanut returned, Longo launched a petition, which received a lot of attention from supporters.
Tragedy strikes: Peanut's euthanasia sparks outrage
However, the matter did not end there. On November 2, the news that Peanut was euthanized was announced, sparking strong indignation among netizens. Longo said on social media: "This is simply my nightmare." Community members condemned the DEC's actions and linked the incident to the 2020 "Black Lives Matter" movement, proposing the slogan "Rat Lives Are Precious, Too."
The director of the DEC was nicknamed "Karen" for her tough enforcement attitude, and the Democratic government became the focus of public opinion. Many people criticized the government for being able to use resources to kill a squirrel but unable to repair the bridge on the street.
Peanut sparks political controversy
Peanut's tragedy is not only a loss of animal rescue, it has also become a symbol of political discussion. In the eyes of netizens, the squirrel's experience exposed the irrationality of government resource allocation and made many people start to think about the current social and government priorities. Peanut should have been a quiet squirrel, but through its own tragedy, it has become a symbol that cannot be ignored in American politics.
