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Santa Cruz Homeless Advocates Push Back Against Vigilante Comments
In response to an acute period of anti-homeless vigilante comments being left on social media in Santa Cruz, homeless advocates took screen captures of the statements and displayed them for the public to see during the public comment period of the Santa Cruz City Council meeting on May 28. The violent and threatening comments were made in response to posts containing photos that identified different homeless individuals and recreational vehicles in the Facebook group "Santa Cruz Looks Like SHIT!". Following the "outing" of the vigilante comments at the city council meeting, many of them where removed from the group. One individual stated he had received backlash at work after people read his comments posted in "Santa Cruz Looks Like SHIT!" and complained to his supervisors. (See photos for an archive of the vigilante comments)
Comments were made by a wide variety of local residents, including business owners and Take Back Santa Cruz members. The comments included threats of violence, and one person fondly remembered the Troll Busters period of history in Santa Cruz.
"Back in the days, we had 'Troll Busters'," wrote Steve Scott on a post in "Santa Cruz Looks Like SHIT!". "Police have their hands tied by our so-called politicians, maybe time that "We The People" decide to handle these problems. Tired of the scum!"
The comment has since been removed.
"Santa Cruz needs a vigilante justice group since law enforcement is failing the citizens," Ryan Harte wrote in the group. "Maybe that will drive this filth out of town for good."
At the May 28 city council meeting, homeless advocate Alicia Kuhl called out Santa Cruz Police Chief Andrew Mills for being a member of "Santa Cruz Looks Like SHIT!" and for being friends on Facebook with the group's administrator, "John Green".
John Gaston, an arts facilities manager for the Visual Art Department at UC Santa Cruz, posted in "Santa Cruz Looks Like SHIT!" about receiving backlash at his place of work. It was at that time he removed his UCSC affiliation from his Facebook profile and changed his id to "J.M. Gaston".
"I received big backlash again at my place of work as a result of this and deleted all my comments on this page," John Gaston wrote in "Santa Cruz Looks Like SHIT!"
"Back in the days, we had 'Troll Busters'," wrote Steve Scott on a post in "Santa Cruz Looks Like SHIT!". "Police have their hands tied by our so-called politicians, maybe time that "We The People" decide to handle these problems. Tired of the scum!"
The comment has since been removed.
"Santa Cruz needs a vigilante justice group since law enforcement is failing the citizens," Ryan Harte wrote in the group. "Maybe that will drive this filth out of town for good."
At the May 28 city council meeting, homeless advocate Alicia Kuhl called out Santa Cruz Police Chief Andrew Mills for being a member of "Santa Cruz Looks Like SHIT!" and for being friends on Facebook with the group's administrator, "John Green".
John Gaston, an arts facilities manager for the Visual Art Department at UC Santa Cruz, posted in "Santa Cruz Looks Like SHIT!" about receiving backlash at his place of work. It was at that time he removed his UCSC affiliation from his Facebook profile and changed his id to "J.M. Gaston".
"I received big backlash again at my place of work as a result of this and deleted all my comments on this page," John Gaston wrote in "Santa Cruz Looks Like SHIT!"
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Thank for posting all of these violation of 1st amendment protected speech. Hate speech that incites violence is criminal and illegal. Why isn't Chief Mills prosecuting these criminals? Instead he is protecting them because they have not been just posting. Hate crimes of violence have been happening to homeless folks for years; reaching higher level in the present year.
I have all the same screen shots and more. Only difference is mine are going to federal agencies that are suppose to monitor hate speech, hate groups and armed domestic terrorist groups like Take Back Santa Cruz. They are also being CC'd to big media players nationally/international. This is not a local problem.
The tentacles of TBSC hate have gone national. It is a systemic problem. Everyone needs to contact Senator Lindsey Graham, Majority Leader on the Senate Judiciary Committee: 202-224-4225. They are the overseers of all law enforcement local, county, state and federal. These acts of violence need to be addressed by FBI: 415-553-7400 and US Department of Justice :202-514-2000. It has reached to such a high level that only the federal government has the resources to take out these domestic terrorist, self proclaimed militia that believe they are above the laws.
"These false "public safety" grass roots groups are the biggest danger to our country." Former Senator Claire McKatskill, who sat on the Homeland Security Committee. She is nailed it!
I have all the same screen shots and more. Only difference is mine are going to federal agencies that are suppose to monitor hate speech, hate groups and armed domestic terrorist groups like Take Back Santa Cruz. They are also being CC'd to big media players nationally/international. This is not a local problem.
The tentacles of TBSC hate have gone national. It is a systemic problem. Everyone needs to contact Senator Lindsey Graham, Majority Leader on the Senate Judiciary Committee: 202-224-4225. They are the overseers of all law enforcement local, county, state and federal. These acts of violence need to be addressed by FBI: 415-553-7400 and US Department of Justice :202-514-2000. It has reached to such a high level that only the federal government has the resources to take out these domestic terrorist, self proclaimed militia that believe they are above the laws.
"These false "public safety" grass roots groups are the biggest danger to our country." Former Senator Claire McKatskill, who sat on the Homeland Security Committee. She is nailed it!
For more information:
https://www.facebook.com/TakeBackSantaCruz...
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