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The Gravette Affair. How a simple protest protest in Bentonville against Qanon and the attack on the Capitol lead to a wave of “White Fear” and mass hysteria in the city of Gravette. (Thread post)
Wednesday was a fun day. And by fun, I mean pretty terrifying. But by the end of the insurrection, we had a jewel in our pocket. Richard “Bigo” Barnett. @ozarkanonymous has been tracking Barnett’s activities with Qanon, ProTrump Parades, and Contacts with powerful people. (1/x)
Barnett had been brought to attention of the coalition several times. Barnett was present at every significant protest in NWA that was far right and even was present when a rifle was pulled on “Riden for Biden” event in NWA. So our interest was how he had the time...
.... and money to go to these events and go to Washing D.C. it was revealed he had a powerful benefactor in November. For legal reasons, we have not discussed this publicly. So Barnett had been all over the coalitions Radar given his position to Qanon, Far right extremists in NWA
So we made a video and said, whenever he comes back form Nancy Pelosi office, he might as well turn himself in. We knew it was him. And this is where the accusations against the coalition start. Accusations that would lead to paranoia in the city of Gravette
Still on Wednesday Night, people began saying we were “terrorizing Richard Barnett”. And that we were “threatening him”, and that “ he wasn’t there at all” until he gave his interview with 5 News Online, and clearly admitted to everything.
We starting telling on folks who had attended or stormed the Capitol. It was easy as hell since THEY UPLOADED IT TO THEIR SOCIAL MEDIA.
And at this time we called for protest in Bentonville at the Square. We wanted to make a point that we were against the insurrection. We couldn’t stand what had happened to sit by silently... and after our video being up for a few hours on Thursday, We got Zucced.
The entire coalition was deplatformed on Facebook and this time, allies included. So Thursday was spent rebuilding and reconnecting and recovering what information we could. But folks form gravette had sent us a clear picture of Richard Barnett. Things we didn’t know prior.
The coalition has a history of protesting relationships between Law Enforcement and Extremists. This is what we are widely known for in NWA. So Barnett’s close ties to Gravette PD, Sulphur Springs PD, and the Mayor must have made them sweat nervously. I doubt this.
Because by Friday, we started receiving screenshots of fake accounts in Gravette groups sending misinformation around. They said the coalition was coming to “steal trump flags”. Friday we join a group ran by Tina Crose, and explained this was misinformation made up by extremists.
This post was removed for what we were told was “safety reasons” (turned out to be a lie) and we were kicked out. So the rumor mill took full hold and thru out the night on every platform the story morphed into the Coalition was coming to Gravette to conduct criminal activity.
Where’s the proof? No one has it outside of the posts had any. It didn’t matter. As typical with far right extremist, sympathizers and typically of KKK supporters, rumor is facts, and law and due process doesn’t matter. Saturday morning we received Hate from people in Gravette.
Saturday we all met up in Bentonville where we were told Police assets were onsite to “monitor the situation”. They didn’t interfere and we had a good protest. But folks from gravette or passing thru kept us up to date on a shocking amount of police saturation in the area.
By the time our protest ended in Bentonville, peacefully, we had messages from folks in Gravette asking when we’re we gonna show up? Well we all were on our way to our favorite place in Fayetteville as it’s customary after protesting to share a meal.
So by the time we had arrived in Fayetteville, the messages had finally gotten under my skin. The ridiculousness of the entire situation was no longer something I was going to ignore. So called up to Gravette PD. And was told someone would get back to me. No one did.
So again... Put it out of my mind, the coalition had a discussion and we cemented a few ideas related to safety and medical training. We broke around 5PM and I left back for Harrison. When I got back. I saw the video from the Mayor of Gravette. https://fb.watch/2XuTaH_wdx/
In the video, the intent was made clear that the police presence and the presence of the illegal paramilitary “Arkansas Patriots” was to deprive us of our constitution rights, AGAIN. They weren’t going to let us protest period. That was Kurt Maddox and Gravette PD resolve.
So now the coalition is dealing with an issue that is our bread and butter. Far right extremists attempting to bully us with the aid and help of local governments and law enforcement. And it’s the straw that’s breaking the camels back.
The same people who were all for storming the Capitol, associated with Richard Barnett, the Arkansas Patriots are essentially protected by the Mayor Gravette and invited by the Mayor of Gravette. And in that video, Cleared to do illegal activity in the city. That’s a problem.
And it continues. The Mayor has messaged the page with a new accusation. One we didn’t make. Stay tuned.
