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Former CIA officer @john_sipher retweeted this yesterday. Little did I know I’d get to experience this very phenomenon just a few hours later. 1/
You see, my wife @abtatom is running for a seat on the local school board. She currently serves on the school district’s budget committee. 2/
Last night, she had a budget committee meeting, after which the school board met. It begins with a public comment period. 3/
We’d heard there would be a group of anti-vaxxers there to oppose Oregon HB 3063, a legislative proposal to tighten vaccine exemption rules in public schools. 4/
Amy had not taken a position on 3063, since she’s running for school board - not state legislature. Also because she’s seen how the bill’s sponsors have been treated and saw no use in kicking the hornet’s nest. 5/
But then they decided to ambush the school board meeting. And since she is a family nurse practitioner running unopposed for school board on a platform of health promotion, she felt obligated to speak up. 6/
Afterward, we posted her statement to Twitter. 7/ 
Today there has been a steady cavalcade of replies and retweets, almost exclusively anti-vaxxers. 8/
Some of these reactions are from real people. Much as I disagree with their beliefs, and as offensive as I find their rhetoric, they seem to be acting in good faith. I mean, they genuinely believe this garbage. 9/
But more interesting by far are the obvious troll accounts. Like this one: 10/
Note the lack of avatar. Its handle is also revealing, as is the fact that it was created a week ago, has only one follower, and has tweeted exclusively anti-vaxxer nonsense like this: 11/
This is my favorite. And by favorite, I mean the most ridiculous and offensive. 12/
Then there’s this troll, which spawned today. 13/
Notice its first tweets were made mere minutes before I made this screenshot. 14/
Are these really coming from Russia? I have no idea. But it’s fascinating to watch. And - I have to admit - a little terrifying. Not for us, personally, but for the state of our democracy. 15/15
Oops. My wife’s handle is @amybtatom. That’s embarrassing!
