Thread by @MavenOfMayhem

🧵Want to know how protests like today's #FluTrucksKlan benefit alt-right extremists? Here's some 101 on how hat operates.

First, they pick an issue that has reached a boiling point. In this case, it's the pandemic and health mandates. They know a lot of people are exhausted.
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But it's not REALLY about health mandates or truckers. We know this because:
1. the US has the same vaccine restrictions for cross-border so it doesn't matter if Canada removes ours anyway
2. It was largely organized by major alt-right figures who aren't truckers.
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However, those major alt-right figures DO have other things they seem to care very much about and speak on often, such as anti-immigration & anti-LGBT sentiments.

The problem is, those views aren't widely shared. So how do you get your voice heard on Parliament Hill?
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I've lived in Ottawa my whole life and we see fringe, bigotry-laden protests all the time. They have like 30 people and they basically stand on a soapbox with a megaphone on the hill and yell about stuff. Nobody pays any attention. No politicians. No media.
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But wait!

What if you could get a whole convoy of trucks to drive to Ottawa?

What if you got a bunch of people out under the guise of ending pandemic mandates?

Then I bet you could get a lot of attention, right? Politicians and media would be all over it.
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Then the organizers get their spotlight. They get their political meetings. They get their media spots. They get their platform. They make connections. They gain support outside of the hateful fringe. People think they're just like them. Average people fighting for the people.
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These people and groups can now rebrand into something more acceptable to wider society.

But their views don't change. They still have the same goals, but now they've quietly repackaged them. Most people won't look under the surface. They keep propping up these voices.
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With a larger platform, more clout and new connections with powerful people, they can now further their hateful agendas more easily. It's a classic power move.

And I haven't even touched the millions of dollars raised. Currently frozen, but for how long? Where will it go?
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"But I was there to stand against the health mandates! I don't support racism! I don't support anti-LGBTQ views!"

Ah, but you just did. You shared their posts. You donated money. You showed up in the crowd. You got them attention. You helped without even realizing it.
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Hate works best through fear & manipulation. They prey on fear & they manipulate us with it.

Do your research. Look beneath the surface. Fact-check what you see. Google organizers' names. Look beyond your social networks for info. Question the messaging. Don't get played.
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