Police in South Florida are increasingly knocking on people’s doors to confront them about potentially threatening messages they’ve posted online, a law enforcement tactic that some people interpret as harassment.
In an age of unrestrained social media threats, the cops insist their only intent is to warn online posters that following through could get them arrested. They say they’re taking a preemptive approach to make sure online chatter doesn’t evolve into real-life crime.
Critics say the attempt to curb crime, no matter how well-intentioned, could be an intimidation tactic that stifles people’s free speech rights.
The issue was spotlighted recently when a woman in Lake Worth, an opponent of COVID-19 masks, made a Facebook post threatening to dump masks on the lawn of a county official. Two Palm Beach County sheriff’s deputies showed up at her home one night in February — not to arrest her, but to warn her that she would be arrested is she actually took action.
The woman became furious and called them the Gestapo.
As you can see the (very rich) People’s Republic of Palm Beach County will not accept that you, the little people, dare to express your anger at their bought and paid for elected officials.
What convinces me this is a threat job is the condescending tone of boy the deputy uses. “Ma’am, it would be a shame if something like drugs would suddenly appear in your kid’s backpack or your dog would have to be put to sleep because it bit somebody and God keep your daughter safe from rapists.”
And yes, I would not put it past them to be that low.
And then you realize why it has to stick in their craw that Trump lives among them. He their Republican Al Czervik in their Democrat ointment.
Answer: “I do not wish to make a statement without my attorney present. Do you have a warrant? No? Then get off my property. You are questioning me about a crime that hasn’t even occurred, yet. Fuck off.”