Death Threats Aren’t Free Speech: Fact Checks Don’t Cure Paranoia
I give Supervisor Nathan Fletcher and the other Supervisors credit; at least they tried to reduce the gibberish spewed at County Board meetings from being fodder for late night comedy shows.
On Monday, the County announced the creation of a panel of local doctors to conduct a virtual review of COVID 19 misinformation presented by public speakers at its meetings. They ended up not having a lot to do.
On Tuesday, during its regularly scheduled meeting, the venom aimed at Supervisors was only limited by time restrictions and procedural guard rails.
The very idea of misinformation was deemed as part of a conspiracy by the vaxxers/anti-maskers in attendance.
It turns out that the days of manufactured claims about the coronavirus, vaccines, and various miracle cures are mostly over. Now it’s just about some notions of freedom apparently acquired during video games and action films.
Don’t believe me? Watch the video. You might want to put on headphones, since others overhearing the audio might think you’ve gone off the deep end.
The cartoonish nature of the political commentary during public proceedings held by elected officials fits perfectly into a world view where truth is dictated by the loudest voices in the room and enforced by not-so-subtle threats of violence.
The Board of Supervisors did a couple of things to provoke this week’s angry mobsters.
They:
Accepted State of California guidance allowing public meetings to be held telephonically in cases where “meeting in person would present imminent risks to the health and safety of attendees.”
Said the County would begin requiring proof of vaccination for all new hires.
The County has continued to hold in-person public hearings; the implied threat of violence is real, and that outside of public forums elected officials and government employees continue to receive threats aimed at themselves and their families. I guess reducing the risk of bodily harm is something our local “freedom” fighters can’t abide.
My personal favorite out of the County Board’s meeting was the person who insisted that personally compromising videos were the basis of policy making.
It’s also worth noting that the vaxxer crowd is diversifying their fear mongering:
https://twitter.com/shawnjvandiver/status/1445488390024040448?s=20
***
In response to pleas from public officials, the Department of Justice has announced guidance for FBI agents in investigating threats and acts of violence.
Attorney General Merrick Garland said the Justice Department would get involved to address the “disturbing spike in harassment, intimidation, and threats of violence against school administrators, board members, teachers, and staff who participate in the vital work of running our nation’s public schools.”
”While spirited debate about policy matters is protected under our Constitution, that protection does not extend to threats of violence or efforts to intimidate individuals based on their views,”
From USA Today:
Angry mobs. Police tape. Obscenities hurled at elected officials. Smashed windows. Physical confrontations, assaults and arrests.
The unruly and violent conduct at many school board meetings, plus death threats directed toward elected members, has risen to a form of domestic terrorism and hate crimes, the national group representing school boards said this week in a letter to President Joe Biden's administration.
The National School Boards Association requested an investigation by the U.S. Departments of Justice, Education and Homeland Security and assistance from the FBI to maintain safety for school board members, as well as district staff and students.
"We urge the federal government’s intervention against individuals or hate groups who are targeting our schools and educators," the letter said.
Republican legislators are doing their level best to provide cover for their fright-minded constituents. Virginia GOP gubernatorial candidate Glenn Younkin rushed to the microphones to breathlessly bleat about the Biden administration labeling “parents with concerns and dissenting opinions as domestic terrorists.”
https://twitter.com/allinwithchris/status/1445555425416384518?s=20
Accusing others of committing odious acts that you/yourself are committing is central to the GOP playbook these days.
Laura Clawson at Daily Kos gets it right:
Remember, all of this is because Republicans are waging a culture war over education, focusing on opposition to mask policies that keep kids out of the hospital and are supported by a majority of parents and on opposition to the teaching of any facts about racism that might make racists uncomfortable. That’s what this is about—except that the core is Republicans cynically looking for a wedge issue.
Less than a year after a mob of Republicans attacked the U.S. Capitol, Republican lawmakers are once again defending violence by their base. At some point, we have to conclude that violence against the government and the defense of that violence are central parts of today’s Republican Party.
***
SNL Version of ‘school board’ meeting.
https://youtu.be/C2dj59Db1C4
Hey folks! Be sure to like/follow Words & Deeds on Facebook. If you’d like to have each post emailed to you check out the simple subscription form on the right side of the front page.
Email me at WritetoDougPorter@Gmail.com