I'm a Florida school board member. This is how protesters come after me.

[Nevilledog]

Link to tweet

Tweet text:
Victoria Brownworth 🎃💀
@VABVOX
Absolutely terrifying deep dive into harassment and assaults on school board members from MAGA and QAnon folks. This is where the battles start. What happened to this woman is terrible.

I’m a FL school board member. This is how protesters come after me.

Perspective | I’m a Florida school board member. This is how protesters come after me.
“Be careful, your mommy hurts little kids,” an anti-masker shouted at my 5-year-old outside my home.
washingtonpost.com
8:17 AM · Oct 24, 2021

https://www.washingtonpost.com/outlook/2021/10/20/jennifer-jenkins-brevard-school-board-masks-threats/


No paywall
https://archive.ph/EQRmY

My 5-year-old daughter was on a play date last month when an investigator from the Florida Department of Children and Families sat at my kitchen table to question me about how I disciplined her, then accompanied me to the play date to check for nonexistent burn marks beneath her clothes. Someone had falsely reported that I abused my child. The report was quickly dismissed, but this was the low point in the short time I have been a Brevard County School Board member.

I’m a speech-language pathologist in the Brevard public school system, where my husband is a teacher. I ran for the school board last year because I was concerned about issues such as teacher pay, student equity and, oh yeah, the coronavirus. As a progressive in a red county, I expected to be a target of conservatives; I did not expect to be called a Nazi and a pedophile and to be subjected to months of threats, harassment and intimidation. But school board meetings in Florida and across the country, including in Virginia, Illinois, Texas, Wisconsin, Wyoming and Tennessee, have increasingly erupted over politicized issues such as masks, bathrooms and critical race theory — and the chaos, now with menacing if not outright violent overtones, has spilled out of the meetings and into the private lives of public servants.

In Brevard, the protests began with Moms for Liberty, a purported grass-roots organization founded after my election by the incumbent I had unseated. Supplied with matching blue T-shirts, pocket copies of the Constitution and a hazy notion of critical race theory — which is not taught in the public schools — its members began showing up at school board meetings. Their first battle, in March, was over bathrooms. Moms for Liberty had zeroed in on the county’s LGBTQ guidelines for administrators, a document outlining the rights of students as delineated in state and federal laws, including the right to dress and use bathrooms according to the gender they identify with. The group carried the torch for fears that their daughters would be exposed to sexual harassment and abuse by their male peers. A disinformation campaign spread through social media, leading the public to believe that this document was newly developed (it wasn’t) and being kept secret. Protesters became regulars outside school board meetings. Trump flags waved in the parking lot. Young children, accompanied by their parents, shouted into megaphones, “Don’t touch me, pedophiles!” LGBTQ students tried to speak while adults chanted “Shame!” Meetings were packed, and those who couldn’t get in banged on the windows and doors.

By April, protesters had begun to gather not just at board meetings but also in front of my house. A group of about 15 shouted “Pedophiles!” as my neighbors walked their dogs, pushing their infants in strollers. “We’re coming for you,” they yelled, mistaking friends standing on my porch for me and my husband. “We’re coming at you like a freight train! We are going to make you beg for mercy. If you thought January 6 was bad, wait until you see what we have for you!”

*snip*

[dalton99a]

1. Someone ought to investigate "Moms for Liberty" - which has 135 chapters in 35 states

https://www.scarymommy.com/moms-for-liberty-anti-masker-turned-militant-karen/

[PSPS]

8. All of these "spontaneous" groups are being choreographed at the national level.

The DOJ knows this and, I presume, getting to the bottom of it. This is no different than a national organized crime syndicate. WHat makes it especially dangerous is its direct ties to the republican party.

[Thunderbeast]

18. Psy-ops from Moscow

The Russians have weaponized social media to destroy western democracies. By leveraging racism, fear, and economic grievance, Putin is getting his revenge for the collapse of the USSR.

[certainot]

25. the roots of it start on the radio, and 5 fla unis support 20 xlimbaugh stations while they excuse

these attacks. those radio stations depend on fla democrats ignoring that many of them would fold if those schools were pressured to start a discussion about looking for apolitical alts. many advertisers would head for the hills

from fakenewsradio.org FLORIDA 20 Florida 10, Florida St. 4 Miami 2, South Florida 2, Central Florida 2

on many of those stations dan bongino screams about his bodily sovereingty (fluids) while saying all govs with vax mandates should get the "double barreled" middle finger - while advertising a 'pro life' anti-choice org

those are 5 of 87 unis doing the same shit - supporting radio stations that deny global warming and covid, sell voter suppression and anti-choice legislation, and attack pubic ed, teachers, and school boards - they need to be pressured - the attention would start an exodus of advertisers, on top of limbaugh's death and the inability to replace him the ad industry would have to break up the monopoly.

it would also draw pressure from school boards. americans need anti-fascist offense and nothing would be more offensive to this bunch than if they started to lose their radio stations

forget social media - it's part of the free speech spectrum - the talk radio monopoly is not and should die with limbaugh - it's an easy target. and much of the russian trolling piggybacks years of talk radio

[Sneederbunk]

29. Just like the Teabaggers in 2009.

[NotHardly]

13. Many states have "terroristic threat" laws... maybe they ought to use them.

Call the fricking police on these people.

https://www.flsenate.gov/Laws/Statutes/2011/775.30
775.30 Terrorism; defined.—As used in the Florida Criminal Code, the term “terrorism” means an activity that:
(1)(a) Involves a violent act or an act dangerous to human life which is a violation of the criminal laws of this state or of the United States; or
(b) Involves a violation of s. 815.06; and
(2) Is intended to:
(a) Intimidate, injure, or coerce a civilian population;
(b) Influence the policy of a government by intimidation or coercion; or
(c) Affect the conduct of government through destruction of property, assassination, murder, kidnapping, or aircraft piracy.
History.—s. 1, ch. 2001-356; s. 5, ch. 2001-365; s. 1, ch. 2001-366.

[Crunchy Frog]

30. Doesn't work if the police are terrorist sympathizers.

[MagickMuffin]

2. Unhinged Pyschos

I never thought I'd live to see something like this, but it has been brewing since I was in high school in the 70's.

[onecaliberal]

3. Progressives are arrested for peaceful protest but these vile sub humans

Can stalk, harass, and threaten the very lives of officials trying to SAVE THE LIVES of children. NOTHING is ever done to stop the violent mobs. Their words are violent and they would not hesitate to kill us given the chance. The unhinged people need to be dealt with.

[Hortensis]

4. Wow. The FBI is arranging to investigate activities at school boards.

A lot of noise was generated by reference to concern for possible domestic violent terrorism (how dare they suggest the mob could include that?!), but whatever they call it. A newspaper account said they're putting together a task force to determine how to proceed.

Sounds like they really need to expedite, especially to address those jurisdictions where local -- and state -- authorities are refusing to act or even colluding with the troublemakers.

And state authorities do need to become involved. Those that aren't behaving the same way.

[Haggard Celine]

5. This is so sick.

It's looking like a civil war is almost unavoidable in parts of the country. And once it starts in Florida, Texas, etc., how fast will it spread to other states? I'm glad we have a sane President, but that only gets us so far.

[young_at_heart]

6. Trump provided Pandora's Box

It's scary to see so many people enthusiastically open it up!

[RKP5637]

11. Trump, glued them together, gave them causes, brainwashed them and told them it was OK!

Trump, is a miserable POS.

[azureblue]

16. follow the money

Who is paying them? The same people who backed the tea party?

[RKP5637]

31. Probably, they just switch names and just keep going. And investors wanting to destroy the

US for various reasons. Another country IMO could topple the US without a shot fired as we have a fair portion of the US population that is so damn gullible.

[SergeStorms]

35. And the dumb shits....

actually think Trump cares about them and their problems.

Trump cares, but only to the extent of what these people can do for him, and how much money he can squeeze out of them. If

If Trump starts a civil war it's of no consequence to him. These people can't get near him or his family (well, only when he charges them for that "privilege&quot so he never sees the consequences of his actions. The entire country could go up in flames and he wouldn't care, or ever be exposed to the torment and heartbreak that he's caused.

Trump is a true psychopath, but I suppose there's always been a certain segment of the population that love madmen, as long as that madman doesn't turn on them.

The question is now asked, how do we get Trump to turn on the very people that currently worship him? If we could figure that out, the entire problem reverses itself. 🤔

[RKP5637]

36. Most of the US has no idea what a psychopath is. It's just too big of a

word for many of them to handle. And those that do some are likely on the take, grabbing whatever they can with Trump's insanity.

[oasis]

7. Trump has poisoned our nation. nt

[Crunchy Frog]

9. Incipient fascism. I don't know how our society pulls itself out of this.

[cayugafalls]

20. There is only one answer and it is not a good one.

There are two paths to come out from the slide to darkness, you need to first enter it fully or avoid it altogether. We have missed our opportunity at the latter.

I think we know where this is going, we just try and have hope it will not ever come to pass.

My hope in all this is that it happens in a small pocket, but not nationwide, one or two states, limited locality, national response and the country is slapped awake.

[LiberatedUSA]

32. If that happens...

…it won’t be confined to any one state; and end up being a rural vs city thing more than a state vs state thing. Guess we better get on passing Beto’s idea of a forced mandatory buyback of AR-15s. I am sure they will all jump at the chance to sell their guns for a check the size of half the amount their property is worth, so that only the police we spent all of 2020 protesting are the ones armed with those rifles.

[Cosmocat]

44. Unfortunately

I doubt it will be that small scale ...

[dchill]

10. I'll bet these creeping cruds can't spell "unconscionable."

[CanonRay]

12. Florida is a stand your ground state, is it not?

Nuff said.

[Lucky Luciano]

14. Excellent point. They deserve it!

[ZonkerHarris]

22. my thought exactly. these nuts are going to legit threaten the wrong person someday soon.

[hadEnuf]

23. People in these circumstances and should consider buying a gun and learning how to use it.

Or at the very least have some means to protect themselves.

This is now threatening and endangering lives.

[azureblue]

15. when they get aggresive

get aggressive right back. Have several people call 911 and say one of them appears to have a firearm and you are fearing for your life. Video them and get their license plates. Doxx them just as they are doing to you. Tell them you have an attorney and if even so much as a blade of grass on your lawn is harmed you will sue them into poverty. "oops, I had no idea this can of mace I have got triggered." While I am not afraid of something physical, goading them into attacking will get them arrested. Last nut case that said something to me, I told him to some over close and say that again. O course, being bullies they will walk away as soon as they start to believe they will get pounded into the ground.

[DENVERPOPS]

24. You are assuming

that the cops that show up at your door won't be Trumphumpers, QAnon, OathKeepers, etc etc etc.

In that case, it is probably YOU that will be arrested and charged, or if you are a minority, esp black, you will be beat up and possibly shot.

Big news in Denver/Aurora yesterday.......Two cops and Two Paramedics who blatantly euthanized an innocent young black man almost two years ago have all been suspended and charged with Murder. Aurora is a real hotbed for police brutality, especially for blacks and other minorities. One would think that the City Council would get really tired of continuously paying out millions of dollars for settlements. Denver, and Loveland, also paying out a lot of money these days.......

Of course, all that is needed for an acquittal is one? juror who is a racist, friends with cops, friends with firefighter/paramedics, Trumphumper, etc etc etc......

[3catwoman3]

26. Euthanized?

Do you have a link?

[DENVERPOPS]

28. Yes, EUTHANIZED, LITERALLY.

They all were involved in injecting an innocent young black man, maliciously, with a serious overdose of Ketamine, for no medical reason what-so-ever......

Two Aurora Cops were charged, along with Two Aurora Fire Paramedics....................

It's all over the news today. Check Denver Post, DU? Huff Post? etc

[bsiebs]

37. Elijah McClain

[link:https://www.kiro7.com/news/trending/3-colorado-cops-2-fire-medics-indicted-2019-ketamine-related-death-elijah-mcclain/KOS4QZ2SEBB7BNQW7HAXOFNIRE/|

[MustLoveBeagles]

38. Here you go

https://www.democraticunderground.com/100215808239

[bucolic_frolic]

17. Is harassment still harassment?

We as a society need to put boundaries around civility.

[rambler_american]

19. Why couldn't those a--holes be charged with assault?

The definition of assault varies by jurisdiction, but is generally defined as intentionally putting another person in reasonable apprehension of an imminent harmful or offensive contact. Physical injury is not required.

[nocoincidences]

21. The Mouthy Minority

Who believe the stupid people can force their way into being in charge.

Nobody can stop them except us, and we have to be willing to put up with their crazy shit to do it!

[housecat]

27. "Nature abhors a vaccuum" so when Trump, as Putin's tool and fool, saw an opportunity, ie., millions

of empty-headed Americans, he took it. Without resistance he created magats, a cult of brainless extremist losers. Millions. There is no space in a head filled with sludge. There is no room for facts and truths until the baked-in toxicity is cleaned out.

[RKP5637]

33. Exactly!!! They are hard-core programmed, cast in cement. Hard to reshape blocks of cement. n/t

[peggysue2]

34. Disgusting behavior

And then, they get their fee-fees hurt when they're referred to as terrorists or act appalled that anyone should suggest that no, parents should not control school curriculums or library content or . . .

This is the mob demanding mob rule with a lawless political party cheering them on.

This is coming to a head, one way or the other.

[CaptainTruth]

39. This, folks, is where I live.

There is a lot of willful ignorance.

[2Gingersnaps]

40. While these psychos worship an actual pedophile.

TFG was Epstein's wingman for 20 years. The mansion that TFG bought for 41 mill, out from under Epstein who wanted to buy it and wanted TFG's advise as a developer on moving the swimming pool, and then sold to a Russian for 95 mill was the reason for their falling out. Epstein was pissed because TFG snaked him, and Epstein believed it was the reason he was finally investigated for child trafficking, TFG reported him out of vindictiveness. This is the type of person Q people think is the avenging angel of trafficked children.
https://www.vanityfair.com/news/2021/01/jeffrey-epstein-and-donald-trump-epic-bromance

[MissMillie]

41. My beef is, that these people harassing her undoubtedly call themselves "Christians"

despite their inability to even pretend to be Christ-like.

[calimary]

42. Double post. Sorry.

Last edited Thu Oct 28, 2021, 11:48 AM - Edit history (1)

[calimary]

43. I'd be tempted to collect a few names and phone numbers and then

Consult a lawyer about suing them. Terrorism, making threats, threats of violence and reckless endangerment, slander and libel and character assassination. Whatever could be thrown at ‘em. And make sure if you do talk to a lawyer, to have that lawyer go to the media about it: local press, radio, TV, print, blogs, as many outlets and platforms as possible. Make some noise and identify the bad guys by name. If you get a quick photo of someone menacing you in your neighborhood.

Maybe it should become costly as hell to try to pull this domestic terrorism. They continue with it and even ramp it up BECAUSE THERE ARE NO DRAWBACKS to this sort of behavior.
No consequences.
No price to pay.
No public shaming.
No costs.
No penalties.
Not even any bad publicity!
Just getting away with it again and again reinforces that it’s somehow good and positive and beneficial, and right. Even Divinely endorsed.

CONSEQUENCES!!! They’re a good thing! Try ‘em sometime!