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PaperclipPerfector  3d ago (text post)   11426 thread views

Culture War Roundup for the week of June 22, 2026

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And another culture (and shooting) war event happening right now, event of more importance than the pathetic one in Montreal.

After a year (lightning speed for justice) events that happened during protest at ICE detention center in July 4, 2025 were resolved.

In rather unexpected way, by maximum possible prison sentences.

Benjamin Song, who fired the gun at the police officer, was sentenced to 100 years in prison. Song was convicted of attempted murder of an officer of the United States, as well as firearm and explosives charges. He was also convicted of riot, providing material support to terrorists. He faced anywhere from 20 years to life in prison.

Zachary Evetts, Autumn Hill, Savanna Batten, Elizabeth Soto and Meagan Morris were sentenced to 50 years in prison. Maricela Rueda, another demonstrator, was sentenced to 70 years in prison. All six were convicted of riot, providing material support to terrorist, and explosive charges. Rueda was also convicted of corruptly concealing a document or record.

Ineffectiveness of your resistance is no longer an mitigating circumstance, and using Signal is highly aggravating one.

The judge openly said that the sentences are meant to "send a message".

As expected, Xitter celebrates while Bluesky mourns. We will see if this is one time occurance, or Trump's promise to crack down on Antifa was meant seriously.

I have no theory of mind for the people who are outraged by the verdict or believe that this is somehow creating a chilling effect on the right to protest. The idea that the first amendment is a license to shoot a cop is fundamentally absurd and I have no insight into the mind of the person who is shocked that doing so would result in a prison sentence. The most charitable way I can think about this is that they feel a social obligation to speak in solidarity with their fellow travelers, and the fact that doing so requires them to spout obviously absurd bullshit is not an obstacle to this.

There are people who to this day believe Rittenhouse showed up to a protest, started shooting and killing black people, then got away with it in court. You just can't underestimate how thoroughly people are interfacing with the news.

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