Wisconsin 'open carry' Poll Watcher militia plans to intimidate African American voters

[AgingAmerican]

A militia group in Wisconsin is planning to target African-American Democrats at polling places in order to suppress the vote and keep Republican governor Scott Walker in office.



A visit to the group’s Facebook page features makes it clear exactly who they are targeting. All of the pictures on the page feature African-Americans. The group is trying to get African-Americans who may have outstanding warrants arrested in order to keep them from voting. The group wants people to report those they suspect of having warrants out on them to the police on election day, “Do the community a favor and keep an eye out for people wanted on warrants and report them to the police on election day.”

The “poll watchers” also plan on harassing and following people who they suspect of being wanted on warrants to their homes. The plan seems to be to use the police to intimidate African-Americans into not voting in November’s election.

http://www.politicususa.com/2014/09/18/militia-group-plans-target-african-american-democrats-polling-places-wisconsin.html

They have lists of felons and people in those districts with warrants, and plan to 'arrest' anyone on their list that they find voting. They will be open carrying at the polling stations.

They are openly bragging about it on their facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/wisconsinpollwatchers

[enough]

1. Terrorism. (nt)

[Initech]

2. How is this not domestic terrorism?

At the very least it's voter intimidation and voter fraud. These people should not be allowed anywhere near a voting booth.

[etherealtruth]

3. Lovely (sarcasm)

I am reposting one of my posts made in this thread http://www.democraticunderground.com/10025562849

I am hoping our resident gun supporters will reconsider their position on this. there are many restrictions at polling places ... we do not have unlimited freedom of speech at the polling place. any actions that are reasonably interpreted as having the potential to intimidate voters are reprehensible.



Having a partisan person "standing behind you, holding a gun," he said, could easily be disruptive or intimidating.

http://www.columbian.com/news/2014/sep/19/election-observer-ok-to-wear-gun-open-carry/
Lee Jensen of Battle Ground was serving as an election observer with Halle during the primary elections. Jensen, also a gun owner, exchanged a few words with Halle but didn't mention anything to him about the weapon. No one did. But Jensen said later it was not the right place to bring a gun.

There is a small room off to the side of the main ballot sorting room where ballots rejected by the county machine are scrutinized by three people attempting to decipher the intent of the voter, Jensen said. It's common for an election observer to stand behind them.

Having a partisan person "standing behind you, holding a gun," he said, could easily be disruptive or intimidating.

Despite disagreeing on the issue, both Jensen and Halle said they are in favor of the civil dialogue the incidence has provoked.


Wisconsin elections board upholds ban on observers' use of cameras
http://www.jsonline.com/news/statepolitics/elections-board-to-reconsider-ban-on-observers-use-of-cameras-b99315058z1-267958261.html

Madison — There will be no selfies — or any other photos taken by observers — at the polls this August.

The state elections board decided Monday to support a rule banning election observers from taking photos and videotaping what happens at the polls, including selfies and photos of family members.


Conservatives Plan to Use Poll Watchers in Mississippi
http://www.nytimes.com/2014/06/23/us/conservatives-plan-to-use-poll-watchers-in-mississippi.html?_r=0

Elections experts say that under Mississippi law, outside election observers deployed by political action committees would need authorization from the candidate to challenge any votes. But they are allowed to monitor the election — an effort that Matthew Steffey, an election law expert at the Mississippi College School of Law, said evokes memories of the civil rights struggles of the state’s past.

“Some folks think this is not really about legal challenges to individual ballots, but about dissuading or in some cases intimidating voters from coming to the polls to begin with,” he said.


Election observers proliferate at polls
http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/election-observers-proliferate-at-polls/2012/08/24/1452c3ba-ed4f-11e1-
a80b-9f898562d010_story.html

“Just being in the poll and having a presence in the polling place is a deterrent,” said Cathy Kelleher, a Maryland real estate agent who started poll watching and voter-roll inspection efforts after getting involved with True the Vote in 2011. “We’re there so people don’t try to do anything fishy.”

[AgingAmerican]

4. From the article:

"The fact that they are targeting a specific group of individuals based on race and perceived political affiliation means that their operation is a violation of the Voting Rights Act. According to the Justice Department, “The administration of elections is chiefly a function of state government. However, federal authorities may become involved where there are possible violations of federal law. In cases where intimidation, coercion, or threats are made or attempts to intimidate, threaten or coerce are made to any person for voting or attempting to vote, the Department of Justice can consider whether there is federal jurisdiction to bring civil claims or criminal charges under federal law. Depending on the nature of the allegations, they may fall into the jurisdiction of different parts of the Department. If you have information about allegations of intimidation, please contact us.”

[FlatStanley]

18. What Voting Rights Act?

[awoke_in_2003]

39. this one...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Voting_Rights_Act_of_1965

[Coventina]

5. Is the SPLC aware of this?

I hope so!

[99th_Monkey]

6. Things are getting crazy in Wisconsin

I just posted this yesterday, re: recent court decision to
reinstate voter ID law, so close to election that it's creating
chaos. http://www.democraticunderground.com/10025559341

[notadmblnd]

7. here is what I posted to their face book page.

The Satanic Church endorses Gov Scott Walker. Please join us by voting for Governor Walker in this November's election.

[hifiguy]

13. Well played!

[Doctor_J]

8. it's a federal election. holder needs to send some feds there and

drop these fuckers if they try to interfere. Letting the Bundy clan get away with their shit was a big mistake. He needs to get domestic terrorists under control

[yuiyoshida]

10. Ya know it might be fun

to watch them intimidate Minority FBI AGENTS... especially when they are placed under arrest and taken away. Just sayin

[Initech]

11. I'm surprised that the FBI isn't on this.

These assholes are taking open carry to whole new extremes. The FBI should be classifying them as domestic terrorists and watching them like hawks.

[Mr.Bill]

19. Maybe they are. n/t

[Doctor_J]

37. I'm not

If these guys were selling pot the feds would be all over them. Right wing terrorists can point rifles at agents with impunity

[kelliekat44]

44. The FBI is secretly on their side...and so are a lot bigots at the DOJ. Both Holder and Obama

have their hands full with the stealth domestic terrorists who can't stand the positions they hold. And the main reason they hated the Clintons and before that Jimmy Carter was that the Carters and Clintons embraced both blacks and Jews. Make no mistake about these terrorists they are armed, ignorant, and dangerous.

[PeaceNikki]

9. If they show up, they will be outnumbered by observers from the ACLU, DPW and LWV.

Many polling places are in schools so they will not be able to carry weapons.

[hifiguy]

12. How the fuck is this even legal?

[AgingAmerican]

40. It's like with the investment banking scams of the 2000s

If laws do not get enforced, it's legal for all intents and purposes.

[rocktivity]

14. Two can play that game.

Can't AA Wisconsiners open carry, too? And aren't there non-AA Wisconsiners with open warrants?


rocktivity

[colsohlibgal]

15. Just Modern Day Nazi Type Thugs

Cretins on parade. Just as big a threat if not more so than ISIS, here in the US. People who make you get how the Holocaust happened. I hope they have a grand old time with Adolph in Hell - if there really is a Hell.

[The Wizard]

16. Wanna be Nazis (NT)

[Enthusiast]

17. These nuts should have a camera on them full time.

K&R

[Fred Sanders]

20. It is all protected by freedom of speech in a nation with no hate laws.

[heaven05]

21. trouble be a brewin' here

I can't wait to see how this plays out..... The nazi brown shirts are here in amerikkka.

[hobbit709]

22. Dial 911 and say that you are being threatened by someone with a gun

[secondvariety]

23. Ah, bullshit.

I'll bet not a one of these pukes follows through on their threat. This is just a couple of losers hanging out in the basement posting crap on the internet and hoping their wives don't find out what they're doing.

[demwing]

46. Wives?

more like "hoping their moms don't find out what they're doing"

[Eleanors38]

48. Yep. Like the million sumin-or-rather march somewhere.

[KinMd]

24. Can't some African-Americans open carry also?

And hang out near the polls also?

[Dustlawyer]

28. No, the police will shoot them!

[KinMd]

45. Good Point

[Eleanors38]

47. Google Huey P. Newton Gun Club. Any shot? nt

[logosoco]

25. This is insane!

My sister works at the polls in Madison, so I told her about this. She never worries about stuff, but these people sound really sick.

I don't think like an insane person, because I am thinking, if they think their guy is so wonderful, why can't he just be voted in on his own merits, why all the thuggery?

[RKP5637]

26. Domestic Terrorists! n/t

[BumRushDaShow]

27. The black population in Wisconsin

is 6.5% (per the 2013 update to the 2010 census). Outside of the bigger cities, I can't see where they would even run into any and they would look like fools to even set foot in a city.

[PeaceNikki]

31. It wouldn't be that difficult given the fact that Milwaukee metro area is the most segregated in the

nation.

http://www.jsonline.com/news/opinion/no-shock-milwaukee-metro-area-has-the-worst-segregation-b99233242z1-252332071.html

A new study says that the poor are increasingly isolated across America and the poor who live among us in the Milwaukee-Waukesha-West Allis metropolitan area experience the highest level of segregation in the country.

This should not come as a surprise.

Nationally, between 1970 and 2009, the proportion of poor families living in poor neighborhoods more than doubled, from 8% to 18%. And the trend shows no signs of turning around.

Yet, you often hear people say that we don't have a segregation problem and that people live where they want to live. That's not true.

People live where they can afford to live, but what makes poverty and segregation so unique in cities such as Milwaukee is this: Even black poor and white poor don't live in the same neighborhoods.

[BumRushDaShow]

43. Don't worry

Gentrification will take care of that.

(this is happening here in Philly where current devastated and neglected areas where the poor, mostly black have been forced to live in, have suddenly being "discovered" and those folks are run out to make way for $500K "townhouse" condos).

But actually Detroit was originally listed as "the most segregated" based on the 2010 census. There was a fascinating but sad article with dot maps showing the most segregated and where they live -

http://www.businessinsider.com/most-segregated-cities-census-maps-2013-4?op=1

[TNNurse]

29. So I looked at the FB page

They call themselves a militia. They are pretending to have some legal authority to arrest people who have "outstanding warrants". I believe pretending to be police or some other kind of official authority is illegal still.

Now that they have announced their intentions will the real authorities (FBI, National Guard, whoever is available) show up and arrest them???? Please.

[CatWoman]

36. i just went to look and the page is gone

[TNNurse]

38. wonder if they took it down

Or did Facebook????

[SoapBox]

30. Are we really in America?

I wonder how many of the "open carry" Terrorists have outstanding tickets, parole violations, domestic violence backgrounds, etc.?

[Gothmog]

32. These people are scary

This is voter intimidation and the DOJ needs to get involved

[Dr. Xavier]

33. To those who live in the area

alert the Democratic Party Precinct Captain or whoever is in charge of these issues. Local Attorneys volunteer to watch polling places and report any irregularities and in a case like this authorities should be called and these traitors reported.

[PeaceNikki]

34. The local Democratic parties will be observing polls, as will the ACLU and LWV.

[Louisiana1976]

35. Those militia members are fascist, racist pigs. What they're planning to do is downright

unAmerican. Someone ought to get it through their thick skulls that this is a democracy.

[alterfurz]

41. WPWM what-to-wear dilemma...

...brown shirt or white sheet?

[Takket]

42. So you can't wear a button near a polling place

But you can openly carry an assault rifle. What the fuck is wrong with this country?