Just because you’re paranoid doesn’t mean they’re not out to get you. Dane101 has learned through a direct, anonymous source that a state emergency response team has been operating out of the GEF-2 (101 S. Webster St.) building downtown specifically to monitor protest related activity on social media sites and elsewhere.
The team is allegedly coordinating with law enforcement to identify and shut down any major direct actions planned by protesters at the capitol, by watching things like the #wiunion hashtag on Twitter and related Facebook groups, etc.
Welcome to life in Scott Walker’s Wisconsin, where the government proactively works to shut down citizens’ Constitutionally-protected rights to free speech, simply because that speech happens to be in opposition to Scott Walker’s radical far-right wing agenda.
H/T to MAL over at folkbum’s.
The “Not Jack Abramoff” guy is probably the one in charge of this project, or so I’m told. He’s been seen directing many of the security programs instituted around the Capital in the last few months.
I think sometimes we forget just how creepy all of this has been, beginning with Walkers first press conference when he announced that he had the Wisconsin National Guard at the ready.
It’s more than a bit disconcerting. Does Walker not care what this looks like? Does he not consider the implications of ramming through far reaching legislation that requires soldiers, a large police presence, metal detectors, GOP legislators violating open meeting laws, police snipers on rooftops during the budget address, considerations of planting provocatuers in crowds of protesters, state monitoring of private citizens and organizations, cops tackling an elected official to the floor of the capitol building, cops tracking down elected officials, .22 calibre ammo strewn about the capitol grounds, shady out of state GOP contracted groups gathering recall signatures under false pretenses, etc, etc, etc.
Is this Wisconsin anymore? Where are we living? What has Walker done to this state and us? Does he care?