Stephen Long Legal Fund Help Protect Free Speech
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On November 19, 2020 Stephen Long was arrested on charges of making terrorist threats to the WV governor and members of his covid response team.
This is a fundraiser for a man wrongly accused. Stephen Long did not directly threaten anybody. He posted a tweet about an opinion. He was exercising his right to free speech.
The day before he was arrested Stephen was approached by law enforcement about the tweet and asked to remove it, which he did. At that point Stephen believed the misunderstanding was over with.
Much to his surprise law enforcement returned the following night with an arrest warrant for the very same tweet that had already been removed.
Stephen Long could be any of us who have strong opinions about what is happening in our states and country right now.
West Virginia citizens were threatened with arrest by governor Jim Justice over not wearing masks in public.
On November 13, 2020 the West Virginia Governor issued yet another Executive Order – E.O. 77-20, which has “amended” the existing “mask mandate” issued by him in July. Governor Jim Justice has issued hundreds of pages of executive orders since first declaring a state of emergency back in March.
He now mandates that everyone wear a mask in “all public indoor places,” presumably referring to any structure inhabited by “the public,” as it now seeks to force property owners and small businesses to enforce his unconstitutional edicts, and will punish them for not doing-so.
Even worse than the order itself, are the comments the Governor made when informing the peasants about his new law.
“Beginning at midnight tonight, I will issue a mandatory requirement to wear a face covering indoors in all public buildings at all times. This is not just when social distancing cannot be maintained, this is mandatory wearing your face covering in all buildings, at all times, other than your home,” Justice said.
So, while the order itself uses weaker and more ambiguous language, the Governor’s direct threats to the public said “all public buildings.” The actual order says “when individuals are able to physically isolate in a physically separate office or other space when no others are present….”
As usual, the tyrant places responsibility for enforcement of his edicts on the already-suffering small businesses, as well as the employees. Although the order didn’t mention it, he says the next step is “closure” of the business for non-enforcement.
He also (apparently waiving attorney-client privilege) says that his lawyers said that if the peasants don’t follow his order, business owners are to call the police.
Moreover, if someone isn’t following his order, “they’re obstructing justice,” presumably the misdemeanor criminal charge of obstructing an officer. He also threatened that business owners/operators who don’t follow and enforce his order will also be charged with misdemeanor criminal obstruction (which is punishable by up to a year in jail).
The governor also warned that if business owners don’t enforce his rules, “the next step will have to be closure.”
Justice also signaled law enforcement, citing conversations with legal counsel.
If patrons don’t follow the order, Justice told business owners to call the police. And if someone isn’t following the mask mandate, they’re obstructing justice, Justice said. The governor also said an obstruction of justice charge would apply to business owners/operators that are flaunting the rule.
Stephen Long had to post bail. He had to hire an attorney. His good name has been slandered all over the news.
Please contribute what you can to help him fight the tyranny we are all facing here in West Virginia.
Thank you!
This is a fundraiser for a man wrongly accused. Stephen Long did not directly threaten anybody. He posted a tweet about an opinion. He was exercising his right to free speech.
The day before he was arrested Stephen was approached by law enforcement about the tweet and asked to remove it, which he did. At that point Stephen believed the misunderstanding was over with.
Much to his surprise law enforcement returned the following night with an arrest warrant for the very same tweet that had already been removed.
Stephen Long could be any of us who have strong opinions about what is happening in our states and country right now.
West Virginia citizens were threatened with arrest by governor Jim Justice over not wearing masks in public.
On November 13, 2020 the West Virginia Governor issued yet another Executive Order – E.O. 77-20, which has “amended” the existing “mask mandate” issued by him in July. Governor Jim Justice has issued hundreds of pages of executive orders since first declaring a state of emergency back in March.
He now mandates that everyone wear a mask in “all public indoor places,” presumably referring to any structure inhabited by “the public,” as it now seeks to force property owners and small businesses to enforce his unconstitutional edicts, and will punish them for not doing-so.
Even worse than the order itself, are the comments the Governor made when informing the peasants about his new law.
“Beginning at midnight tonight, I will issue a mandatory requirement to wear a face covering indoors in all public buildings at all times. This is not just when social distancing cannot be maintained, this is mandatory wearing your face covering in all buildings, at all times, other than your home,” Justice said.
So, while the order itself uses weaker and more ambiguous language, the Governor’s direct threats to the public said “all public buildings.” The actual order says “when individuals are able to physically isolate in a physically separate office or other space when no others are present….”
As usual, the tyrant places responsibility for enforcement of his edicts on the already-suffering small businesses, as well as the employees. Although the order didn’t mention it, he says the next step is “closure” of the business for non-enforcement.
He also (apparently waiving attorney-client privilege) says that his lawyers said that if the peasants don’t follow his order, business owners are to call the police.
Moreover, if someone isn’t following his order, “they’re obstructing justice,” presumably the misdemeanor criminal charge of obstructing an officer. He also threatened that business owners/operators who don’t follow and enforce his order will also be charged with misdemeanor criminal obstruction (which is punishable by up to a year in jail).
The governor also warned that if business owners don’t enforce his rules, “the next step will have to be closure.”
Justice also signaled law enforcement, citing conversations with legal counsel.
If patrons don’t follow the order, Justice told business owners to call the police. And if someone isn’t following the mask mandate, they’re obstructing justice, Justice said. The governor also said an obstruction of justice charge would apply to business owners/operators that are flaunting the rule.
Stephen Long had to post bail. He had to hire an attorney. His good name has been slandered all over the news.
Please contribute what you can to help him fight the tyranny we are all facing here in West Virginia.
Thank you!
Organizer and beneficiary
Laura Houston
Organizer
Moorefield, WV
Stephen Long
Beneficiary