On Monday the anti-mask, anti-vaccine, and anti-common health protocols moved to the legislature to continue their protest. Based on the video I saw, which included Max Bernier (of course), there were between 200 and 400 people. 1/17
Also present was Kevin Johnston who streamed the event on Instagram. Most of the speeches were boilerplate conspiracy woo so I won't bother repeating them. What was interesting was what happened as the event concluded. 2/17
We can look at this as another example of KJJ becoming increasingly unhinged having threatened AHS workers previously. I can be convinced that this is the case, but I hypothesize that there is something more deliberate. 3/17
Let's take a look at this rant within the context that it occurred.
He spends some time glad-handing supporters. His demeanor is cheerful, if also insincere and shallow. 4/17
As people ask to take pictures with him, we hear an older Native man who appears to have bought into the "vaccines are poison" narrative that is being disseminated by this movement. 5/17
The story is convoluted, though I don't doubt his genuine fear that has been stoked by bad actors. As I can make it out, he suggests a local Chief asked antifa and BLM to provide security so that vaccines can be distributed to elders. 6/17
It is after this story that KJJ goes off on his rant. 7/17
Unhinged? Sure, but also deliberate.
KJJ is playing to an audience that, despite his long history of lies, believes what he tells them and he knows this. It is performative. 8/17
First KJJ knows he won't win an election. Here however he is setting up the reason for his loss.
In short, he will likely claim to be the victim of election fraud because "they" are afraid of him and will do what they can to keep him out of power.
Sound familiar? 9/17
A second reason is perhaps darker.
Note how quickly his demeanor returns to the insincere charm he has been displaying before. 10/17
This is unsettling, but also rather instructive in that it suggests another truth about his performance.
I would argue that another aim is to gin up anger in his supporters while he himself can claim plausible deniability should anyone act on the rage he encourages. 11/17
I think KJJ wants the chaos that may result from his rhetoric, but he wants to watch it and benefit (if possible) from a safe distance.
Recall his attitude on Sunday when the fence came down. 12/17
It seems clear that KJJ knows how far to push things when HE is present. I suspect he would be fine with the fence coming down and would praise the act on video, but when he could be implicated? Then he's in favour of "law and order". 14/17
Finally, I can't help noting that his apparently newfound empathy for FNMI is at odds with this repulsive display. 15/17
16/17
17/17
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1. By now I'm guessing that most of my Twitter followers are aware of the most recent threats against Trudeau and the subsequent of a suspect. I think there is an even more important story though related to the poisonous influence of social media
2. Dawid Zalewski was arrested for making death threats against the Prime Minister. The following video was posted to his second Facebook profile. Be warned that it may be triggering as it promotes graphic violence against the PM and others.
3. Zalewski is clearly not well, but I think would be wrong to dismissively call him "crazy" move on without further examination. There is a reason why he got to this point and I believe we can learn a great deal from his social media footprint.
1. I’ve been enjoying my summer break and have not been paying a lick of attention to the Olympics. Until today however since Twitter has collectively lost the plot.
2. Earlier boxer Imane Khelif defeated her Italian opponent in the first round when Angela Carini quit after 45 seconds stating that she had never been hit so hard.
To be fair, I don’t enjoy being punched in the face either so I can at least sympathize with Carini.
3. Now a preliminary fight would never be important enough to make international news under normal circumstances however we are, as the saying goes, living in interesting times.
1. Stephen Yaxley-Lennon (aka Tommy Robinson) was arrested in Calgary on an immigration warrant apparently. He may have since been released, though he has to turn in his passport and remain in southern Alberta.
I'd prefer that he be kicked out immediately.
2. Despite claiming to have been a "political prisoner" many of Yaxley-Lennon's criminal convictions his Islamophobic "activism" and a number of convictions since have had nothing to do with his political views.
3. In 2005, he was convicted assaulting a police officer who intervened during an argument Yaxley-Lennon was having with his then girlfriend.
1/ It's been a while since I've done a thread here, but the recent focus on Pat King got me to wondering what was up with his own Salacious Crumb, Tyson "Freedom George" Billings.
2/ Last time I looked at Billings he was a part of the efforts to set up a permenant camp outside Ottawa so there could be daily protests, though the original plan involved surrounding the police and arresting politicians.
Suffice to say it didn't go anywhere.
3/ Billings and Ron Clark soon headed home, but they both soon got involved in other protests including the anti-carbon tax protests occurring in the province. The numbers at these events have been small but that hasn't stopped from politicians from courting the fringes it seems.
1/ Though I'm not especially active these days, I'm still sometimes gobsmacked by some of the ridiculous (though sadly effective) rage farming by some on the right. Harrison Faulkner of "True North" is just a recent example of that.
2/ So a bit of background. Musical artist Karan Aujla won the 2024 TikTok Juno Fan Choice Award at the award ceremony this past weekend.
I think it was this weekend. Truth be told I don't pay a lot of attention to awards shows.
3/ It should be noted that Aujla has been in Canada for years emigrating as an orphan. He graduated from high school in Canada. The album was produced by a Canadian on a Canadian label.