WASHINGTON STATE – Newsweek published a story over the weekend reporting that Washington state residents who complained about businesses violating lockdown measures received personal threats after stay-at-home protesters shared their personal information on Facebook.
Two groups who have been protesting Governor Inslee’s stay-at-home order, The Washington Three Percenters and Reopen Washington State, posted the names, email addresses and phone numbers of people who have submitted formal complaints to the Governor’s webpage set up specifically for that purpose.
The Washington Three Percenters, a far-right group self-described as “God Fearing Patriots,” shared the following message to their social media account: “Want to snitch on your neighbor? Don’t expect to hide behind you(r) computer screen.”
One woman from King County said she immediately began receiving threats via email and phone messages. In one phone message, reviewed by the Seattle Times, a man can be heard saying: “You got 48 hours to get the [expletive] out of Washington, or I am coming for you, and your loved ones.”
A quick look at businesses in Sequim and Port Angeles that have been “turned in” include a couple of landscape and construction companies, gun stores, and pawnshops, among others.
We talked with one pawnshop owner whose business was reported several times. He says he’s allowed to be open because he makes payday loans, considered an essential function. As for gun sales, he says, in his opinion, a thorough reading of the 14-page list of exceptions to the lockdown makes it unclear if gun stores are essential or not.