"Stop Cop City" activist recruitment | MSM gaslights about "banned books" | "Bloggers are not media" - Wake Co. Elections Official
No. 40 — Oct. 1-Oct. 7, 2023
Durham Residents Prepare for “Stop Cop City” Weekend of Action - Indy Week
According to Indy Week, “three dozen activists, community organizers, and concerned citizens” gathered at the Durham Library, where attendees were encouraged to make the trip down to Atlanta on the weekend of November 10th to 13th to participate in a “mass action” against a police facility which is under construction.
Although the “Call to Action” for the November event describes it as a “mass nonviolent direct action”, previous “direct actions” against the facility have included property destruction, violence, and arson, and Georgia law enforcement fatally shot Manuel “Tortuguita” Paez Teran 57 times in January as they evicted an illegal occupation encampment of activists from the property (law enforcement claimed that Teran shot first).
Radical leftist activist and UNC Law student James “Jamie” Marsicano was banned from the university campus after being charged with domestic terrorism in relation to a “direct action” at the site. Marsicano was subsequently named in a related RICO indictment in September.
Mainstream Media gaslights about “banned books”
State education board says it won’t hear appeals on school book challenges. Here’s why. - N&O
State Board of Ed attorney informs panel it lacks authority to enforce Parents’ Bill of Rights - NC Newsline
The news media here in North Carolina has shown a curious hesitance to share the actual objectionable content in the so-called “banned books” like George, Gender Queer, or Lawn Boy, the presence of which parents have taken issue with at school libraries across the state.
For instance, here’s a quote from a recent News & Observer article:
One of the law’s requirements prohibits instruction on gender identity, sexual activity or sexuality in kindergarten through fourth grade. That has led some parents to seek removal of books from schools because they say K-4 children can read material prohibited by the law.
For instance, Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools removed “Red: A Crayon’s Story” from elementary schools following parental complaints that the picture book violated the new state law. The story of a red-labeled crayon realizing it’s actually blue has been accused of promoting gender identity.
Now, the framing of these paragraphs is that it is reactionary parents who are accusing a children’s book author of “promoting gender identity.”
However, let’s look at a a few quotes from reviewers who very much are in favor of promoting LGBTQ ideology to children, and see what they have to say about “Red: A Crayon’s Story” (emphasis added):
“They say it’s a tale about coming to terms with you really are, and it is. But in another way this is the first picture book I’ve seen that would be perfect to hand to anyone who has come out as transgender. The metaphor is effortless. And there’s a final line in this book that’ll knock your socks off. Cannot WAIT for this to be released!”
- Librarian Preview: Harper Collins (Fall 2014) - fuse #8 production (School Library Journal)
“Hall's clever use of crayons as metaphors allows children to explore examples of situations where people may have been labeled by categories: by religion, race, culture or gender. The other crayons aren't critical of Red, just close-minded in their tireless efforts to aid in his conformity.”
- Shelf Awareness for Readers for Tuesday, February 10, 2015 - Shelf Awareness
Or, perhaps most tellingly (emphasis added):
Hall says that the book is inspired by his struggles with dyslexia and the tendency of teachers to not see past that label. The story rings true for anyone who finds themselves labeled in a way that might not suit them. For transgender and gender non-conforming readers, the story feels very literal. They were given a label at the “factory” that didn’t line up with how they truly are.
The book also speaks to the idea of well-meaning but misguided supporters. In the story, Red’s friends and family all lovingly try to help him be better at being red. Though they just want to help, what Red actually needs is someone to see past his label and change his perspective entirely.
When I shared this story with a class of first graders, they were immediately in tune with the message. The book made a good vehicle to talk about my own experience as a transgender person in an appropriate and approachable manner. We also talked about times when our outside didn’t match our inside, and one student brought up the idea of pretending to be happy when you’re actually in a bad mood.
I would recommend this book to anyone looking to explore or explain the basic idea of being transgender. The story clearly conveys the idea of external versus internal perceptions. Readers are quick to empathize with Red’s struggles and the book provides a strong base for discussions around any kind of label.
- “Red: A Crayon’s Story” by Michael Hall - Gender Diversity for Young Readers
From these quotes, it’s clear that this book is indeed being used as a vehicle to introduce transgender ideology to children as young as six, and it may be available to elementary school children in a district near you.
“Bloggers are not media”
A recent public records request to the Wake County Board of Elections revealed an email exchange regarding yours truly, and how former Wake County Elections Director Gary Sims viewed independent members of the media.
The context of these emails is that I had received a tip from one of y’all regarding Sims’ banishment of election integrity activist Lynn Bernstein from the Wake County Board of Election headquarters property, which had occurred just days before on May 14, 2022 (here’s a contemporary Twitter thread by Bernstein).
Being my usual scrupulously law-abiding self, I naturally reached out to the Board of Elections office by phone to let them know I would be filming video at their headquarters (I did not reveal that I was specifically interested in the Bernstein story). In response, Sims disparagingly referred to me as a “blogger”.
I suppose the difference between me and the mainstream media (which Sims presumably regards as more legitimate) is that I actually covered the allegations in the ensuing federal civil rights lawsuit (Bernstein v. Sims). Although the lawsuit has since been resolved, I am still working on getting y’all some more clarity into what transpired.
For more info on the lawsuit, here’s an article I wrote back in November 2022 on the allegations in the lawsuit, and an update after the judge issued a preliminary injunction in favor of Bernstein.
Here’s the full emails:
From: Stacy Beard <Stacy.Beard@wakegov.com>
Sent: Tuesday, May 17, 2022 9:09 AM
To: Gary Sims <Gary.Sims@wakegov.com>; Olivia McCall <Olivia.McCall@wakegov.com>
Subject: RE: Message from WIRELESS CALLER (+***********)His name is Stephen Horn. He says he is an independent journalist and would like to shoot video outside the Board of Elections building, in the lobby and come to the 2 p.m. meeting. He says he’s been to our building before.
I searched his name along with the word Elections to see what stories he may have written and this was one of the first hits: https://spectrumlocalnews.com/nc/charlotte/news/2022/01/10/north-carolina-man-admits-he-was-in-the-capitol-during-jan--6-attack--pleaded-not-guilty
I have a half hour meeting at 10 a.m. at the Justice Center and was going to head your way – I’m available to chat about this now or any time.
From: Gary Sims <Gary.Sims@wakegov.com>
Sent: Tuesday, May 17, 2022 8:57 AM
To: Stacy Beard <Stacy.Beard@wakegov.com>; Olivia McCall <Olivia.McCall@wakegov.com>
Subject: FW: Message from WIRELESS CALLER (+***********)Sounds sketchy. Could you call this person back? We are not voting here today. Cold be tied to one of the new radical groups. Bloggers are not media.
Thank You,
Gary Sims
Director
Wake County Government
Board of Elections
gary.sims@wakegov.com
919-404-4040 office | 919-231-5737 fax
1200 N. New Hope Rd., Raleigh, NC 27610 / PO Box 695, Raleigh, NC 27602
wakegov.com/elections
Want to get in touch? I appreciate to getting your tips, thoughts, feedback, etc: thisweekinthetriangle@substack.com