Pro-gun activists using Facebook groups to push anti-quarantine protests

[Initech]

A trio of far-right, pro-gun provocateurs is behind some of the largest Facebook groups calling for anti-quarantine protests across the country, offering the latest illustration that some seemingly organic demonstrations are being engineered by a network of conservative activists.

The Facebook groups target Wisconsin, Ohio, Pennsylvania and New York, and they appear to be the work of Ben Dorr, the political director of a group called Minnesota Gun Rights, and his siblings Christopher and Aaron. By Sunday, the groups had more than 200,000 members combined, and they continued to expand quickly, days after President Donald Trump endorsed such protests by suggesting citizens should “liberate” their states.

The online activity implies that opposition to the restrictions is more widespread than polling suggests. Nearly 70% of Republicans said they supported a national stay-home order, according to a recent Quinnipiac poll. Ninety-five percent of Democrats backed such a measure in the survey.

The Facebook groups have become digital hubs for the same sort of misinformation spouted in recent days at state capitols – from comparing the virus to the flu to questioning the intentions of scientists working on a vaccine.
https://www.seattletimes.com/nation-world/pro-gun-activists-using-facebook-groups-to-push-anti-quarantine-protests/

These assholes are why we can't have nice things.

[Lulu KC]

1. And why do I sense that this has support from a foreign land?

197 days until the election.
They're trying to break our spirit and scare us.

[underpants]

2. Knew it knew it knew it.

They started with the churches and then the secular side started dancing their monkeys.

I said a month ago at work that our own “rugged individualism” was going to screw this up.

This DU thread sums it up - South Park

https://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1017&pid=578092

[Initech]

5. The religious idiots can scream persecution all they want.

But the truth is we're all shut down. Everything is shut down until we figure this virus out. Until there's a cure, or herd immunity or the virus dies, we're all on the same page. We are all in this together. They can skip a few sermons until we figure this crisis out.

[rockfordfile]

3. Facebook is a un-American company. I'm not surprised

[billh58]

4. Looks like Facebook is taking action

https://www.democraticunderground.com/100213321405

Social responsibility for social networks.

[Initech]

6. I wish they'd take action against anti-vaxxers.

That shit needs to go away, especially when a vaccine is key to getting us out of this mess.

[billh58]

7. The anti-vaxxers are a menace to society

in that while they have a right to put themselves at risk, they have absolutely no right to put others (including their families) at risk when they become ill out of an overabundance of stupidity.

I agree that Facebook and all other social media platforms should not give these idiots an opportunity to spread dangerous misinformation and right-wing crusader anti-science propaganda.

[Initech]

8. Oh yeah.

A coworker and I were talking about this the other day. That if they don't see the need for a widespread vaccine after this, they can honestly go lick subway poles.

And if they do get the vaccine they are hypocrites of the highest order.