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This evidence-free assertion, from media outlets and politicians that have been relentless in their quest to loosen restrictions all along, is pathetic and outrageous. That it will become the gospel narrative is an indictment on how easy bad-faith actors have it in this country.
If the evidence doesn't back you up, simply pretend it does.
When that becomes untenable just keep shifting the goalposts and keep making whatever assertions suit your politics.
When that becomes untenable just keep shifting the goalposts and keep making whatever assertions suit your politics.
It has been obvious this would be the next narrative, once clear the protest was not a transmission vector. We know the vectors are families, but you can't culture war and Premier-drag there. So for days we had this coordinated disinformation campaign: https://twitter.com/BenjaminMillar/status/1274277854906212352?s=19
The usual media outlets are hammering the same point, while the more centrist ones performed their useful idiots role with aplomb.
The evidence we have seen of the kinds of behaviour before the protests vanishes. The lack of a spike in other states with protests vanishes.
The evidence we have seen of the kinds of behaviour before the protests vanishes. The lack of a spike in other states with protests vanishes.
Their first argument never transpired so we have this lockstep pivot. The &/or here is doing some heavy lifting and disguises the fact 1 of these is simply not true and the second is unsupported conjecture at best.
I will retract this entirely once they find one (1) person who was involved in transmission who tells us that yes, they abided by all physical distancing and hygiene advice up until the BLM rally but then cut loose from that day onwards.
Meanwhile...
Meanwhile...
Once again for those up the back...
"But I don't think the Black Lives Matter protest has contributed".
"But I don't think the Black Lives Matter protest has contributed".
Hi there, I'm the guy who strictly observed social distancing and hygiene best practice for three months, kept them up right through those anti-lockdown/vax/5G protests, then saw people in masks at a BLM rally so invited all my cousins over for a doorknob-licking party.
Hi there, my hobbies include 1) railing against the perils of "groupthink" and 2) joining my fellow travellers in making exactly the same unsupported arguments at exactly the same time.
They're never going to let this one rest. It's now the official proclamation from the nation's Health Minister. https://twitter.com/GrogsGamut/status/1275223152516165633
And citing Jason Wood of all people, Minister for Making Absolutely Everything About African Gangs https://www.sbs.com.au/news/new-assistant-minister-for-multicultural-affairs-criticised-for-african-gangs-rhetoric
Another day on and the narrative is all but complete.
All it needs now is to be trotted out by the ALP and its work is done...
All it needs now is to be trotted out by the ALP and its work is done...
... the Rubicon has been crossed. BLM did every COVID-19 that we record from now on.
Every one of these politicians has relentlessly called for a loosening of restrictions.
Every one of these publications has relentlessly called for a loosening of restrictions.
Every one of these columnists has relentlessly called for a loosening of restrictions.
Every one of these publications has relentlessly called for a loosening of restrictions.
Every one of these columnists has relentlessly called for a loosening of restrictions.
One rally in one city changed everything overnight.
How dumb are we? Obviously exceedingly.
How dumb are we? Obviously exceedingly.
"The ‘protests cause attitude change’ theory is a lie, in that it is a claim that isn’t supported by any evidence, and contradicted by what evidence we do have. But there has been close to zero testing of the validity of the claim in media."
*Data alert* https://twitter.com/KetanJ0/status/1275355232084668416
*Data alert* https://twitter.com/KetanJ0/status/1275355232084668416
My favourite thing about this is that, as usual, we have handsomely remunerated people casually yet relentlessly spreading evidence-free disinformation to suit their own ends, while people with far better things to do scramble to unpick the fabrications in their own time.
It is as exhausting as it is predictable. https://twitter.com/LukeLPearson/status/1275371317038993409
It's also a monumental distraction, and they know it. This month alone, in the midst of these Black Lives Matters protests, we have had NSW police send an Indigenous boy face first into concrete and taser a kneeling Indigenous man in the face... https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2020/jun/22/indigenous-man-repeatedly-tasered-in-face-chest-and-neck-during-arrest-in-sydney
...SA Police have pinned a 28-year-old Indigenous man to the ground and struck him, while another has sent racist messages telling community leader Nyadol Nyuon to “fuck off back to the war torn shithole country you came from.”
This is slips on through. https://medium.com/@millar.benjamin/police-officer-investigated-over-abhorrent-racist-abuse-128d738a1bae
This is slips on through. https://medium.com/@millar.benjamin/police-officer-investigated-over-abhorrent-racist-abuse-128d738a1bae
While we spend yet another day on this BLM Protest Make Covid red herring, we spend yet another day not actually discussing what's really happening and how we can better address it.
Please be reading: https://twitter.com/benitakolovos/status/1275604666198323202
Please be reading: https://twitter.com/benitakolovos/status/1275604666198323202
Why the red herring?
"An expert panel of doctors and politicians warned the Federal Government of a "missed opportunity" to prevent coronavirus outbreaks in high-risk groups like migrant communities, several weeks before a spike of cases in Victoria." https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-06-24/government-warned-failing-engage-migrant-communities-coronavirus/12384800
"An expert panel of doctors and politicians warned the Federal Government of a "missed opportunity" to prevent coronavirus outbreaks in high-risk groups like migrant communities, several weeks before a spike of cases in Victoria." https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-06-24/government-warned-failing-engage-migrant-communities-coronavirus/12384800
I reported more than two months ago (April 22) that there was significant concern about the lack of adequate support and material on coronavirus prevention getting out into migrant communities in Melbourne, including areas like Brimbank.
They were warned over and over.
They were warned over and over.
Here would be my question - how many of those taking a very specific swipe at Black Lives Matters protesters who did *not* transmit COVID-19 also took a specific swipe at the Aspen ski folk who actually brought it back and continued to party on, knowing the risk?
So the Black Lives Matters rally held in Melbourne on *June 6* so persuasively caused people to relax that it was entirely responsible for a family gathering that was held on the weekend of *May 23 and May 24*.
Remarkably powerful message.
Remarkably powerful message.
We're going to see a seamless pivot to blaming multiculturalism and Muslim communities. Any takes not also explaining these communities are at higher risk due to socioeconomic factors and the nature of the work many people in these communities are performing are inadequate.
Exhibit A of n, in which n = ∞ https://twitter.com/BenjaminMillar/status/1275971125705469953
"I’m really concerned, I’m thinking ‘here we go again’, scapegoating, marginalising, unfairly stigmatising the Muslim community". https://twitter.com/lukehgomes/status/1276019758001909766?s=19
