Read on Twitter
The Manatee-Sarasota area has many connections to the horrific scene of insurrection in Washington DC yesterday. Want to see? Buckle up for this thread: /1
The Manatee GOP expressed support for Josh Hawley’s objections to certification of the electoral college vote. /2
Josh Hawley’s home-state newspaper says Hawley has blood on his hands for a “Capitol coup attempt.” This is who the Manatee GOP cheered on. /3 https://www.kansascity.com/opinion/editorials/article248317375.html
Florida GOP Vice Chair & Sarasota County Commissioner Christian Ziegler was at the protest, as described in this @HeraldTribune article. /4 https://www.heraldtribune.com/story/news/politics/2021/01/06/u-s-rep-greg-steube-joining-republicans-challenging-election-results/6564750002/
The protest was led by the same people connected to Ziegler who were filming outside the Vern Buchanan town hall at the Van Wezel in Sarasota in 2017, namely Dustin Stockton. Stockton was also part of Steve Bannon's border wall group. /5
https://www.bradenton.com/opinion/article231719883.html
https://www.bradenton.com/opinion/article231719883.html
Florida GOP Chair & State Senator Joe Gruters applauds seditious voices challenging the election results & transfer of power. /6
Several Sarasota-Manatee locals are affiliated with the Council for National Policy, a secretive radical right hub organization. cc: @anelsona /7 https://billmoyers.com/story/new-podcast-the-shadow-network/
Longboat Key resident Charlie Kirk, a CNP member, urged Mike Pence to overturn the election results. /8 https://www.mediamatters.org/charlie-kirk/charlie-kirk-calls-mike-pence-unilaterally-discard-state-electors
Longboat Key resident Charlie Kirk, a CNP member, & his team sent 80+ buses to the March on January 6. /9
Women for Trump Florida, whose leader is on the Board of Governors for the Council for National Policy, sent a busload to the protest in Washington DC. /10
The leader of Women for Trump Florida has called for Trump to invoke the Insurrection Act, a way to impose martial law. /11
The leader of Women for Trump Florida has retweeted pro-Trump lawyer Lin Wood’s criticism of Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts as corrupt. /12
Women for Trump Florida has endorsed a number of local officeholders. Political candidates such as Tommy Gregory & Fiona McFarland sought or touted their endorsement. /13
The QAnon movement, which has local connections, has also contributed to the Trump Capitol riot. /14 https://www.axios.com/capitol-sieges-qanon-roots-acadc659-4d39-4606-96c3-a477c6841fe3.html
A @TB_Times story about a Tampa QAnon rally mentioned Sarasota QAnon conspiracy theorist John Michael Chambers. /15 https://www.tampabay.com/news/tampa/2020/01/16/qanon-conspiracy-theorists-find-kinship-on-the-tampa-riverwalk/
QAnon conspiracy theorist John Michael Chambers has been active with Sarasota Patriots, who Sarasota Sheriff Kirk Hoffman courted in his political campaign. /16
QAnon conspiracy theorist John Michael Chambers has also spoken to many local groups such as Tea Party Manatee, the Lakewood Ranch Republican Club, the Longboat Key Republican Club, etc. /17 https://www.yourobserver.com/photo-gallery/john-michael-chambers-visits-with-longboat-key-republicans
One of the Manatee Trump Train leaders was in Washington DC for the January 6 protest. A Bradenton Trump Train event before the election featured Congressman Greg Steube. /18
https://www.bradenton.com/news/politics-government/election/article246832486.html
https://www.bradenton.com/news/politics-government/election/article246832486.html
A member of the Manatee Trump Train Facebook group called for boogaloo in Washington DC. /19
https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2020/06/19/what-is-boogaloo-movement/3204899001/
https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2020/06/19/what-is-boogaloo-movement/3204899001/
The @bradentonherald also reported a local Parrish man was at the scene of the Capitol at the time of the riot. /end https://amp.bradenton.com/news/politics-government/article248333850.html
