2. Followers know that I generally stick to Canadian content unless there is a Canadian hook.
In this case the suspect, David DePape, grew up in Powell River, BC. He moved to California as a result of a relationship he was pursuing 20ish years ago.
3. While I wasn't able to look at his Facebook profile before it was removed it has been reported that it contained posts supporting the Trump lie the election had been stolen, Covid and other conspiracies such as the Great Reset, and anti-Trans rhetoric.
4. I was however able to take a look at what is alleged to have been his blog which if true is yet another example of how dangerous the spread of misinformation is online.
His last post before the attack was yesterday.
5. A word of warning before I continue that the remainder of this thread is disturbing so keep that in mind if you continue reading.
6. Most of the posts were simply links to videos, however he also included some of his own writing.
The most common posts were connected to antisemitic conspiracies.
7. Other posts were attacked Black Americans, immigrants, and other openly racist posts.
8. Also not surprising is that we see the same anti-Trans and "groomer" language that has been the latest shiny object that many on the right have latched onto, including candidates in recent Canadian and municipal and school board elections.
17. Of some interest it in this context that we have our first reference to some Canadian content in DePape's posting of a video featuring Lauren Southern and Brittany Pettibone (wife of founder of Generation Identity).
18. Of course we have the all-encompassing QAnon conspiracy that he accepted.
19.
20. A supporter of Trump's "Big Lie" about voter fraud, DePape posted that those journalist who say there was no evidence should be "dragged straight out into the street and shot."
21. So, yeah.
He is a Trump supporter if anyone suggests otherwise.
22. Now as the Emergencies Act hearings are currently taking place I think it is interesting and telling the DePape was echoing the same conspiracies as many of whom were involved in the #OttawaOccupation and border blockades.
23. Which brings us to a second piece of Canadian content in which he claims that the Canadian government has concealed deaths resulting from the vaccination which is another conspiracy echoed by people involved in the anti-mandate/vaxx occupation.
24. Further he bought into the suggestion that Canada's government was tyrannical, sharing a number of Jordan Peterson videos to support his claim.
25. And fyi, if you have been living under a rock, Jordan Peterson's influence over a significant number of people who believe his misinformation has become a lot more relevant again.
26. Finally, we have the Great Reset and WEF conspiracy.
27. This really is one that is being shared by a number of people, included former hockey players such as Theo Fleury who presumably believe it...
28. ...to political figures who look to be pandering to a base that believe the conspiracies.
31. I've written a number of times that misinformation is dangerous. While most might not act on it, there those who will as evidenced here and in a number of other cases.
32. Rather than doing more to stem the tide of disinformation however, there are others who promise to open the pipes to allow more sewage onto social media in the name of "free speech" regardless of the harm it causes... because it won't harm them.
1. As the Emergencies Act Inquiry continues we need to remember that most of the individuals who participated in the #OttawaOccupation and border blockades are still planning further actions.
And that includes a "convoy" planned for Lethbridge in support of the Coutts arrestees.
2. This week occupation organizers such as Tamara Lich and Pat King appear before the Emergencies Act Inquiry, however we have to remember the EA wasn't only enacted due to the situation in Ottawa but also because of the border blockades.
3. Borders were shut down in BC, Alberta, Manitoba, and Ontario. The most economically damaging was likely the closing down of the Ambassador bridge but the longest and perhaps most dangerous blockade was at the Coutts, AB border crossing.
1. If you are following me odds are that has been since January 29, 2022 when I started composing some epically long and frequently snarky threads on the "Freedom Convoy" which I often characterized as the #OttawaOccupation.
2. The occupation in Ottawa eventually inspired anti-vaxx/anti-mandate people to block border crossings in BC, Alberta, Manitoba, and Ontario, slowing and in some cases stopping international trade.
3. The convoy attracted a number of participants, many of whom subscribed to outlandish conspiracy theories, and a number of whom adhered to extremists ideologies.
1. Well this is the weekend organized by Marcus Ray where the brain trusts of the movement are getting together to strategize.
Among those there include Elliot Mcdavid who talks about owning a number of weapons "all over the place" and challenges the government to "bring it on."
2. But I'm getting ahead of myself.
Over the past week individuals drawn by Marcus Ray to central Manitoba have been making their way to the location including this person.
3. Prior to his arrival he was asking for help as his RV seems to have broken down.
I suspect others will have a similar story; made fearful of claims of a tyrannical government that doesn't exist and financially struggling because they have believed gifters' lies.
1. So I've decided to do a bit of an update on Elliot Mcdavid's verbal attacks on Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland (@cafreeland) focusing primarily on the far-right, conspiratorial, echo chamber that supports and encourages such behaviour.
2. First however, as a result of the media attention, Mcdavid posted a short clip to explain his actions.
First, the "coward at the cabin" insult is soooo 2021.
Second, he will have you know he loves all of the peoples!
3. So, fyi, I plan on posting these clips when Mcdavid talks about his respect for women and love of "minorities" to put those statements in perspective.
1. Yesterday Chrystia Freeland and her staff were verbally harassed and threatened by this fella.
2. I'm going to do a bit of a dive into Elliot Mcdavid soon, but first in what was something that was totally expected, there are those who are suggesting the event was "staged" by the Deputy Prime Minister and the Liberal Party as per these representative examples.
3. I write "expected" because any incident in which someone on the right who engages in this type of harassment or worse (I'm thinking of the Quebec mosque murders) the claim that soon follows from this crowd that it was a "false flag" and/or a setup.
1. So, with the Romana Didulo Peterborough event going as one would expect and the planned protest at the Kamloops RCMP station this past weekend a wash, how'd y'all like a Marcus Ray/Christopher James update?
2. Last time I wrote about Ray (aka Mark Chilcott) was when he said he was "stepping away" from being the face of the effort to surround police stations and demand they arrest politicians and health professionals because they don't believe Covid exists.