Aspersions are easy
to toss around. According to an article in Huffpost.com, quoting
research by the Washington Post and NBC News, the Dorr
brothers-Chris, Ben, Aaron, and Mathew, have formed the largest
Facebook groups organizing protests around the country. The brothers
have a history of exploiting far-right causes to rake in hundreds of
thousands of dollars. The groups were “Against Excessive
Quarantines” in states like Michigan, Wisconsin, Ohio and
Minnesota.
The groups have over
200,000 members. The Facebook group steer people to websites to
donate money for various right-wing causes, like anti-abortion or
pro-Trump causes. The brothers pocket the money, according to the
news reports.
But the groups
incite far-right and white-supremacist groups to action. An
anti-shutdown rally in Michigan was organized by the Michigan Liberty
Militia, a white nationalist group. They Dorr websites also spur
anti-vaccination extremists to attend or organize anti-shutdown
demonstrations.
So have far-right
organizers like the radical Proud Boys and the Three Percenters have
heeded the call, as seen in San Diego, Tennesse, and New Hampshire.
Another demonstration was held in Idaho by Diego Rodriguez, a pastor
and former Republican candidate for the state senate. Rodriguez recently held an Easter church service with Ammon Bundy, a militia
leader.
The Three Percenters have been implicated in multiple anti-Muslim terror
plots. They coined the code word “boogaloo,” a term used by white
supremacists, militia and far-right circles to describe the bloody
civil war they hope is coming to America.
The infamous cartoon
of Jews as the source of the COVID-19 was pasted on a placard at a
recent anti-shutdown demonstration.
But the aspersions
are not limited to white-supremacist groups. Palestinians have blamed
Israel. According to the New York Times, Chinese agents amplified
messages that sowed panic in the USA, copying Russian tactics. The
messages warned the Trump administration was about to lock down the
entire country. Iran has blamed both Israel and the USA, and Jews in
general for the virus. And in India, Muslims are blamed for causing
the virus.
Meanwhile, the virus
seems to be abating. Israel has begun to ease the restrictions, but
not until the Veterans Day and following Independence Day holidays
have passed next week. Then some schools will reopen as well as more
stores, but not malls and theaters.
In Israel, the virus
spurred Blue and White chief Benny Gantz to join an emergency
coalition with Prime Minister Netanyahu. Gantz was harshly criticized
for the move. His former partners in Blue and White have filed
lawsuits with the High Court against the unity. Should the High Court
disqualify Netanyahu from serving because of the three criminal
indictments against him, then Gantz has agreed to dissolve the
government and go to new elections, the fourth is a little more than
a year.
The economy is
dragging with over one million Israelis unemployed. Former Shin Bet
(Israel’s FBI) head Yuval Diskin has castigated Gantz for forming a
coalition with a “thrice indicted” politician. Diskin said
Netanyahu was only interested in avoiding justice.
As if to underline
this point, Attorney General Mandelblit has come to a verbal duel
with the temporary state prosecutor Eldad, who he accuses of,
essentially, being a lackey of the Likud. Eldad started an
investigation into B&W Benny Gantz for fraud while the election
campaigns were raging. In an unusual move, prosecuting attorneys and
others in the Justice Ministry have complained that Eldad was
unsuited for the position.
Also, the Likud is
angling to control the judiciary committee that will approve new
judges. This, pundits say, is a move by Netanyahu to appoint judges
who will keep him out of prison.
In any case, the
rate of infection seems to have slackened in Israel, with 14, 882
infections, 193 fatalities, and 107 on ventilators. Experts warn there
may be a new outbreak in the winter that will create difficulties
should testing not be in place. Experts say it is essential for the
the virus to be detected in the flu season, something so far difficult to
accomplish. Especially since the IDF’s intelligence division says
the COVID-19 may last until the fall of 2021.
While the Dorr
brothers continue their incitement and radical right-wingers agitate
for no lockdowns, health officials say the virus will be around for a
while and the safest way to avoid illness is to stay indoors,
maintain social distancing, and keep your hands clean. Especially
those who are in the most at-risk sectors.
