On the anti-vax folks infiltrating local politics- republican strategists and influencers like Charlie Kirk and the late Paul Weyrick said the best way for their unpopular agendas to be put in place was for the local races, like school boards and health districts, was to aggressively run their own local people for those seats, rather than move political mountains by just running candidates in federal offices. The mindset is that the tactic will be an easier thing to accomplish in moderate or deep blue areas.
And on "first amendment auditors"- as a public employee, they get in our way, which is their whole goal. In some locations, they have put their own safety at risk while employees are performing a task (like heavy equipment operation in our yards). Putting up signs indicating it is unlawful for them to be in a specific area isn't a warning to them; it's a challenge. And the behavior of FAA's in courthouses and public health facilities where there are vulnerable and innocent third parties is especially upsetting. In one instance, an "auditor" was on an upper floor where detectives, counselors and child abuse victims meet, and the likely hood of crossing path who absolutely should not be in a Youtube video is high. A father was with a 5 year old boy for an interview, and the FAA insisting on getting video of all parties as the transited down a hall (a counselor, and DCYF investigator included). As the counselor struggled to get an interview room open, the FAA attempted close-ups on the child and the parent, even after the man told him to get away from his son. The Youtuber persisted, there was shoving, the father telling his boy to go with the investigator as he pinned the FAA to the floor.
If it were me, I would without hesitation have done the same thing.
On a side note, these people calling themselves "journalists" insults the intelligence of anyone who follows actual news.
Well if BOTH sets of commissioners knew about Sullivan's anti-vaxxing opinions and actions, makes one wonder about THEIR beliefs...You know, I have long had issues with elected officials serving on seemingly EVERY local board and committee, as opposed to community members. These folks make ALL the decisions for us. They have ALL the power. And just look who they put on the health board...🤔
It appears that both sides have issues to work out. If I were the parent of the 5 year old being videotaped I would have called the police for assistance. The anti-vaxers put all of us at a higher risk of getting Covid and death. Thank you Dominic!
It's tricky, because they both have their own distinct spheres and peccadilloes but if there was a Venn diagram the two circles would overlap quite a bit. I link to the Wikipedia page on FAAs and there is a section on the connection to the sov cit movement. Also there is an acknowledgment of the connections between those two groups by law enforcement in their trainings, like this one: chrome-extension://efaidnbmnnnibpcajpcglclefindmkaj/https://www.colochiefs.org/assets/SovCitAuditors%20-%20SouthFork%20CO.pdf
I think the biggest and most glaring connection is the shared ideology surrounding the lack of respect for public employees that stems from a general mistrust/dislike of the government.
On the anti-vax folks infiltrating local politics- republican strategists and influencers like Charlie Kirk and the late Paul Weyrick said the best way for their unpopular agendas to be put in place was for the local races, like school boards and health districts, was to aggressively run their own local people for those seats, rather than move political mountains by just running candidates in federal offices. The mindset is that the tactic will be an easier thing to accomplish in moderate or deep blue areas.
And on "first amendment auditors"- as a public employee, they get in our way, which is their whole goal. In some locations, they have put their own safety at risk while employees are performing a task (like heavy equipment operation in our yards). Putting up signs indicating it is unlawful for them to be in a specific area isn't a warning to them; it's a challenge. And the behavior of FAA's in courthouses and public health facilities where there are vulnerable and innocent third parties is especially upsetting. In one instance, an "auditor" was on an upper floor where detectives, counselors and child abuse victims meet, and the likely hood of crossing path who absolutely should not be in a Youtube video is high. A father was with a 5 year old boy for an interview, and the FAA insisting on getting video of all parties as the transited down a hall (a counselor, and DCYF investigator included). As the counselor struggled to get an interview room open, the FAA attempted close-ups on the child and the parent, even after the man told him to get away from his son. The Youtuber persisted, there was shoving, the father telling his boy to go with the investigator as he pinned the FAA to the floor.
If it were me, I would without hesitation have done the same thing.
On a side note, these people calling themselves "journalists" insults the intelligence of anyone who follows actual news.
FAA's are basically stalkers. Seems like, especially under the circumstances you mentioned, people/parents could press charges.
Great reporting, Dom. Thanks for investigating and bringing us these stories!
Well if BOTH sets of commissioners knew about Sullivan's anti-vaxxing opinions and actions, makes one wonder about THEIR beliefs...You know, I have long had issues with elected officials serving on seemingly EVERY local board and committee, as opposed to community members. These folks make ALL the decisions for us. They have ALL the power. And just look who they put on the health board...🤔
This! So many of the same people.
yes! And they make ALL the decisions! No new blood, exchange of ideas...
BINGO!
Let me know if the name Victoria Palmer comes up in your anti-vaxxer investigations.
It appears that both sides have issues to work out. If I were the parent of the 5 year old being videotaped I would have called the police for assistance. The anti-vaxers put all of us at a higher risk of getting Covid and death. Thank you Dominic!
1st amendment auditors should not be associated with the sovereign citizen movement. They are (ususally) very different ideologies.
It's tricky, because they both have their own distinct spheres and peccadilloes but if there was a Venn diagram the two circles would overlap quite a bit. I link to the Wikipedia page on FAAs and there is a section on the connection to the sov cit movement. Also there is an acknowledgment of the connections between those two groups by law enforcement in their trainings, like this one: chrome-extension://efaidnbmnnnibpcajpcglclefindmkaj/https://www.colochiefs.org/assets/SovCitAuditors%20-%20SouthFork%20CO.pdf
I think the biggest and most glaring connection is the shared ideology surrounding the lack of respect for public employees that stems from a general mistrust/dislike of the government.