What does it take for a county to ghost someone after they have been wrongfully ambushed by the county’s henchmen? What does it take to erase someone? To drown and bury justice under layers of silence and secrecy?

My story isn’t just about an unlawful arrest—it’s about a system so desperate to protect itself from a commoner’s exposure that it resorts to intimidation, erasure, and, perhaps, something worse. It’s about the shadows where the truth hides, the voices silenced by fear, and the unholy pact of power that keeps the “blue line of justice” untouchable.

But here’s the twist: their silence? It’s their loudest confession.

Silence Screams Louder Than Words

In the shadows of forgotten filing closets, a registry of Gwinnett’s failures in hiring practices and its corrupt justice system lurks. However, a force operates that not only upholds the law but guards a code—a blue line of justice that silences dissent and shields corruption.

I’ve tried every avenue to uncover the truth—lawyers, ABC agencies, courts, and police—each one turning into a dead end on Ghosted Rd… or maybe just dead, a ghost in the memories of those who cared. We’re not there yet, though.

Their silence is telling—and yet—it’s powerful. The mental cat-and-mouse game at play involves wondering about each other’s next move. I would like to think I’m quite predictable. “They,” on the other hand, are dangerously apt to do the unthinkable. But when answers are refused, I am actually given more—the freedom to write the truth of the matter unobjected. I have the upper hand in levying my questions to the masses and letting them stew in the same wonder I experience. And I can’t help but wonder: why would a county go to such lengths to silence me? What secrets are they so desperate to bury?

Gwinnett has ceded the floor. I intend to use it. When justice delays, it betrays. And in Gwinnett, it seems they’re buying time to rewrite the script.

The Truth in the Shadows of Us All

Gwinnett’s silence isn’t just negligence—it’s complicity. If their actions were aboveboard, the evidence would’ve been in my hands months ago. Instead, they’ve left a void. However, Gwinnett’s offense against me isn’t an isolated incident. While the full details remain out of reach, I’ve discovered that others have faced similar situations stemming from Recorders Court within the same timeframe.

In my search for a lawyer willing to confront this daunting county, I became aware of another case eerily similar to mine—an arrest linked to missing documents. This raises a critical question: was this negligence by a specific employee? A systemic issue?

Obtaining the full story will be no small feat, considering the uphill battle I’ve faced just to access my own records. Yet, with any luck, that individual may find me. If there are two of us, how many more exist? The evidence suggests a deeper problem—one that hints at Gwinnett’s inability to properly maintain records during that period. A single oversight is plausible, but a pattern signals something far more troubling.

But what if there’s more to the story that gives them reason to work so hard to cover this up? Join me in this rabbit hole of questions, and maybe see things from my perspective.

It’s not unknown that I write under an alias and that I associate with individuals who have been federally labeled “terrorists” and “militants.” I have received and written many stories from others across the nation who have spoken out against the injustices carried out against them. I guess it would be equivalently conceited of me to consider that only the handful of acquaintances and associates that I know—my mom and THE Crumpton himself—would ever read my writing, and even then, I wouldn’t credit them for actually reading.

But the reality check is that I see the numbers on the backend. I know the real expanse of my audience, and with that awareness, I feel much like Peter Parker, who once reminded us: with power comes responsibility.

If Gwinnett levied the power of record-keeping to someone incapable of the job, they owe every person infringed by it an apology, at the very least, and more for those they injured while “bringing to justice” for failing to comply.

Just the same—and no matter how fractal my influence may be—my responsibility is to deliver truth. It’s hard to do without evidence, but I’ve compiled enough of my own to know the truth with 100% certainty, with only one fact remaining: who?

Who would do such a thing? Is it truly a pattern, or is it a targeted ambush?

Shining Light on Doubt

When officers surrounded my home on the night of July 29th, 2024, it was an instant step into a reality I have often considered, but never wanted to confront. People don’t like truth. If any people hate truth more than anyone, it’s the police. I’ve never been shy about my stance regarding self-defense under any conditions. With the new tools Big Brother has such as Flock cameras to following the movements of individuals, this is even more exceptionally alarming.

However, while the statement “fuck around and find out” resonates deeply with me, it does not come with casual disregard for life. I have a brain, after all. I may not always use it before I say things, but that’s why I prefer to write. Even then, I’ll defer you to the First Amendment if what I write melts your sensitivities.

I’m highly introverted as a result of many years of trauma it would turn out (I wouldn’t suspect that surprises anyone in my audience, and it is certainly not a call or challenge for one-uppers or those in need of therapy). Being put on the spot does not lend itself to a shining moment for people like me—it’s overwhelming. So when the scene unfolded outside my home (four or five Gwinnett County Police cars flanking my house, along with a Georgia State Patrol vehicle, and officers moving in with precision—their positioning deliberate, almost SWAT-like)—my own sensitivities were a little triggered. It felt like my worst thoughts were becoming reality and this tactical show of force was designed to intimidate me into responding—in a predictable way, as I said I would many times before—you can imagine I was neither cordial nor graceful.

I don’t credit myself with thinking on my feet. I’m stubborn—especially when I know I’m right. But these henchmen put me on the spot, forcing me to think quickly about how I wanted to deal with their ambush.

Maybe I wanted to believe they had the wrong address (they’ve done that before!), because I truly could not think of one thing I had done to find myself surrounded on this scale. Maybe by the time they made their quick decision to tase me instead of shooting me, it was because they were starting to realize their role as pawns of something bigger—or maybe they thought I was too cute to kill—who knows? Yet I can’t help but wonder: how many others have fallen into their trap? How many acquaintances of mine are now ghosts because they didn’t fit the narrative?

Take Jason Patrick, for instance. Just ten days after my arrest, his life ended in a tragedy so haunting it feels impossible to ignore the connection. He reportedly jumped from an overpass, allegedly struck by multiple vehicles below. But those closest to Jason don’t believe the official story. Whispers of foul play and loose ends tied too neatly swirl in the shadows of his death.

What does this have to do with my arrest? Jason Patrick was in Oregon. I was in Georgia. Surely these are unrelated incidents. Or are they?

Jason’s death raises questions too big to dismiss: Was he silenced for knowing too much? Was his fate sealed by the same forces that came for me? Jason Patrick lived what could be called a vigilante life. He believed in the Constitution. He believed in justice. He believed in exposing corruption. And he practiced helping others in their time of need. There are many great things to say and that have been written about someone many refer to as a “patriot.” Sadly, there is more written about a man with the same name that the controlling forces refer to as a “terrorist.”

Jason and my history goes back to our work together for Zen In the Car—a blog platform hosted by Daniel Louis Crumpton out of Warner Robins, GA. We called JP our boots on the ground because he fearlessly entered any of our missions in the faces of those we alleged perpetrated the real crimes. Our front line man rushed to the scenes of the Bundy Ranch incident, the Oregon Wildlife Refuge takeover, among several other historical moments of our time. However, the spin on these stories portrays no hero. They weave the narrative of a villain for our nation.

He’s dead now and can’t deliver his side of the events that occurred that early morning. His death is as mysterious as he was, though, and I wonder if he knew it would leave us with this question, or if it truly is what many of us already think. The telling of his passing will unfortunately remain nothing more than a story of inconvenience on the highways and byways of Oregon—an attempt to minimize the greatness of a person who truly tried to make the world a better place. A world that will never know—and worse, think less of when they read the chronicle of the event from those who control the narrative.

Just How Deep We Go

Was I a failed attack? It wasn’t considered at the time until JP’s death came into question, but it has to be asked if we were meant to meet our demise to send a message—a warning to others?

To say the least, DLC, JP, and I were all very close at the time. And if ever one of us needed a message sent, it would be that we’d all one day be subjected to a threat. It is understood between us that those meant to bring about enlightenment and truly expose corruption will remain in the end. So maybe it was just his time, or maybe I didn’t go the way it was planned. Who knows?

Why should I suspect something like this at all? It’s hard to say coincidentally when you don’t believe in coincidences. I believe all things happen for a reason. I don’t believe that we all have a purpose. Some of you are just NPCs idly going about your day, caring only about that which immediately affects you. I’m not judging, just pointing out a fact. Nothing Crumpton or I are doing with our writing immediately affects you. It can, however.

I think it’s important to note that the loopholes leading to my arrest lie in the fact that in 2016 I pled no contest to a speeding ticket—I paid a fine, served some volunteer hours, and took a defensive driving course. When you do this, it actually opens the door for them to lose your paperwork and justify an arrest eight years later. I guess you could always go with ‘not guilty’ and make them work for their extortion, but I didn’t want the aggravation of that in 2016, and they made ‘no contest’ sound like a good option. Now you know. Take their time, make them spend the money.

What about Crumpton? Well, Crumpton is still hard at work exposing the corruption of the Warner Robins justice system—calling out local judges and sheriffs during election season. Coincidentally, Daniel took up this passion only a couple of months before a (corrupt) neighboring county’s police showed up at my door referencing an invisible warrant for my arrest.

It’s not far-fetched to believe that in the state of Georgia, sheriffs form acquaintanceships with other county sheriffs and police officers throughout. I would even venture to say that connections between agencies are not so unheard of that someone couldn’t have targeted JP after failing to check me off the list, knowing how close he and Daniel were.

The Burden of Proof: Calling All Hands

I’m left with a heavy truth, one that gnaws at the edges of reason: Did I escape their trap by sheer restraint? Did Jason Patrick truly take his own life, or was his death another story rewritten by silence? As I piece together these fragments of negligence, intimidation, and devastating loss, a clearer picture emerges—silence isn’t just complicity; it’s the soil in which corruption thrives.

Every unanswered email, avoided call, and missing piece of evidence isn’t merely negligence—it’s an indictment of a system engineered to bury the truth.

How long does it take to rewrite a narrative to justify the unjustifiable?

How many more ghosts will Gwinnett County’s henchmen create while hiding in the shadows?

Their silence may seem protective, but it’s only made their guilt more deafening. As they stall and spin, I’ll keep writing. Writing to honor Jason. Writing for myself. Writing for all the unseen, unheard, and unjustly silenced.

Because the truth? The truth doesn’t just speak—it roars. And it doesn’t stop until light shines on the last shadow of unexposed realism. As much as the evidence suggests a deliberate falsification of a warrant for my arrest, I must acknowledge the possibility of a mere clerical error. After all, even the most damning signs could be explained away. But just like any diligent investigator, I feel compelled to follow every lead to its logical end. So, regardless of whether I’m right or wrong, I’m putting this out there. If something foul happens down the road, at least it will have been said.

So I call on you: witnesses, survivors, anyone who’s walked this same road—find me. If there’s one of us, there are surely more. Together, we can unearth what’s been buried, demand accountability, and ensure that the ghosts start speaking.

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• 9 militants, former Bonaire man, arrested, one dead in Oregon standoff
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• WarTown Times: The Sheriff Needs More than a Badge and a Gun
• WarTown Times Sheriff Shootout
• WAR-TOWN TIMES -Houston County Sheriff Shootout Special-2024: Update- Day of the Primary- May 21st

The Aftermath of State Sanctioned Intimidation

Your society can label me for speaking loudly about liberty and justice, but even your cage won't silence me--you just handed me a captive audience. 

Mental health dominates conversations these days, with everyone acknowledging the critical importance of well-being and the myriad factors that contribute to our collective struggles. Despite all the dialogue, it feels like we've missed the mark. If you think things are getting better, I have to wonder what you're really looking at. We talk about mental health in the abstract but rarely address the raw, unfiltered experiences of those living through trauma. And while trauma knows many faces, I can't speak to anyone else's experience. I can only give you mine—and that's probably why I had to go through this recent experience.

Right now, I could probably be labeled for many things depending on which government-funded agency you asked. No matter what labels make up the story of my past to others, I really want to address the things that have brought me to this state of mentality where I stand against corruption and for freedom—at any cost. After all, money is all they want, right?

Even as I write this, my heart feels like it's caught in a vice grip, crushed under the weight of every beat. A lump hangs in my throat, seemingly trying to suffocate me; the weird shot of emotionally-pained heart and unshed tears build up; my hands tremble uncontrollably; a light drizzle of sweat expands over my on-fire body as it attempts to lose control in an all-out panic. If I can keep it together, great! I'll make another day. But if I'm unsuccessful in minimizing my anxiety and stress, it's a war with myself I don't even want to describe.

But here's the thing—I’m not alone. This is the reality of countless individuals for many reasons, but all point to some form of PTSD. We’ve reserved this term largely for former military—whose indescribable experiences have left them more than battle-scarred—but the truth is trauma is derived from all stages of life and experiences we’d never consider. It's as if the whole world were walking on eggshells and didn’t even know it.

We’re conditioned to believe that state-funded medical care is a solution, but all it does is give corrupt governments a bigger hand in violating people, leveraging their authority to assign crippling labels that discredit and silence individuals. They don’t want us to have purpose—they want us pliable, controlled, and broken. Cognitive dissonance ought to fall under mental disorders, but then someone would have to acknowledge that we’ve built our world on a show of contradictions designed to replace the ancient sense of purpose—the stuff that made conquerors like Caesar formidable foes. Those who can’t be convoluted by overreaching governments are targeted by other means—drugs, alcohol, poverty—demands of the state meant to infringe upon their rights and manipulate them into submission.

Dusphemeo: A War on the Non-compliants

We’re not far from 1984. The Brave New World that threatens us preys on the weaknesses of mental health because now they’ve found another way to silence individuals—labels of disaccreditation and questionable states of mental being. Obviously, people like me who stand for constitutional freedoms are not mentally right. We're still fueled by purpose and mission. Whether you believe in it or not, this isn’t just my fight—it’s ours.

Government overreach disguised as protection and care has left me (and countless others) scarred in ways that words cannot convey in such a way that you will truly feel what I'm going through unless you've experienced it yourself.

Perhaps that's why this happened. I write so much about the experiences of others, that I may have become numb to the pains of my own past—considering others have experienced far worse than me. However, my PTSD isn’t just from a single event—it’s the result of a lifetime of interactions with a system that sees individuals like me as threats rather than citizens, a system that was designed to manipulate us into compliance.

When I say a lifetime, I truly mean since the young age of as far back as I can remember. Not only from those involving my dad but at 10 when a friend of mine built a fort in the only lot that had trees in south Florida. We had a campfire that was highly offensive to a passer-by who claimed to be a cop only after he chased us through the woods and then by car into a parking lot and started grabbing my friend and me--the story of my life encounters being simply that my 'accomplices' couldn't run fast enough. Such as that time when the neighbor kid and I decided to skip school and instead walked to Toys-R-us to buy marbles with our lunch money. Toys-R-Us was still closed at the time, and we were instead accosted by mall security who promptly called the police who took us to school. I don't know what punishment my rich neighbor kid paid, but I was grounded for '2 months' (which truly only lasted until my parents were tired of me in the house--not long).

From 11 to 18 years, I think I was relatively behaved and wrapped up in school and sports. Then I got my first car. I loved driving, and I loved driving fast. I probably got this (queue daddy's girl syndrome and eye-roll) from my dad. He used to take me for motorcycle rides when I was really young. I still carry a scar from his bike's muffler. 

My parents and their insurance carrier were probably pretty happy once I went about on my own, as those early years behind the wheel would be laced with multiple speeding violations and responses from police officers that would include everything from professionalism, dad lectures, police simply yelling and demeaning me for being a poor human being for driving fast, and even outright sexually violating me. The latter is why I was more than happy to leave Tallahassee. Maybe one day I'll grow the balls to tell that story, but right now it still cripples me to think I was ever so vulnerable and defenseless. 

These were hardly the last of interactions, just the early ones. I was the member of the family that took Dad up on not-really-a-challenge, but proving you could get more than one speeding ticket in a day. At any point, anyone could easily believe I'm the problem, but speed does not mean reckless--it just means faster than the number they put on a sign on the side of the road. I'm not the asshole zipping in between lanes, or the jerk cruising in the left lane under the speed limit preventing others from passing. Like many other laws that have come into existence under the umbrella of "for your safety," many traffic offenses are a means of extorting citizens, pushing control, and extending overreach of the state into our private lives to justify further execution of violations against our rights. 

Case in point matters with my parents that would ultimately end my utter hope for believing in our justice system and instill an understanding that if I wanted justice, I would have to get it on my own. 'Heroes' and henchmen walk a thin line and, at the end of the day, they sit at the same table to break bread together and make deals. They allow innocent people to become the victims of horrible crimes just to 'get their guy.' To make matters worse, the real 'bad guy' isn't even made to suffer for their crime. Instead, they get a slap on the wrist and are put back into the world to attempt murder on other innocent people who get in the way of their agenda--a real-life sin-city.

These encounters didn’t just leave physical scars; they rewired my brain. Every day is a battle between who I was before and the person I’ve had to become to survive. Trust is a word that no longer holds meaning for me. I see the world through a lens of suspicion, always bracing for the next attack, the next betrayal by those in power. It's exhausting, and the constant state of alertness drains the life out of even the most mundane tasks.

I wasn’t born with this fear. It was carefully curated through years of unfriendly encounters with the police, judges, and other figures in life that we're told to trust. Starting from an early age, each incident, each harsh word, and each moment of intimidation has added another layer to the anxiety I carry with me every day. Now, I can’t even relax in my own home. Even my daughter who witnessed the event has her own traumas she's now dealing with.

I hadn't been graced with custody of my daughter for the larger portion of my almost 10-years-ago divorce--despite multiple requests by multiple counties to investigate child neglect among other concerns. However, upon her coming to live with me in 2022, we were accosted with the demand for legal documents as a means to keep her out of school. Then after being kicked out of school for behavioral and paperwork reasons, the school's social worker had DFCS show up at my home to inspect what was in my fridge and question my kids on whether or not I was an abusive parent to them. Where did all of this come from when not a single thought was shed about their safety when I brought to light evidence of concern? 

In the two years of her living with me, my daughter has experienced events in which a call to the police as part of doing the right thing only turned into dismay at the lack of give-a-fuck by two counties of police. 

Now, my daughter, who witnessed police carry out their orders, and then read the report of events, now carries her own scars. I see the fear in her eyes when she hears the sound of a siren, or when a stranger knocks on the door. It breaks my heart to know that my fight has become her burden. Her childhood--meant to be filled with innocence and joy--is now tainted with a fear she should never have known.

Whenever a car’s reflection shines across my room, I’m jolted with panic, wondering what agency has pulled into my drive now? Who's coming for me now? My dogs bark, and my heart races because, whether it's a jogger up the sidewalk or six police cars pulling into the drive, their defense mode is triggered in the fashion of a bark that says whatever it is, it's unwanted.

Getting into my car just to get groceries is no longer about getting my adult chores done—it feels almost criminal and calculated in risk. I have to plan my route around cameras throughout the town because who knows if this will be another day a camera triggers an assault by heavily armed officers, ready to kidnap me under the guise of the law? The vulnerability of feeling like all I can do is take what they give me and succumb to their demands or be subjected to the flames of their accusations is a crushing weight. The idea that they win before the battle even begins is defeating. Corruption has brought this about. Nothing less.

This is not just my reality; it's the light version of everyday life for individuals targeted for pursuing a purpose that doesn't align with the Brave New World. My purpose is to expose the system designed to keep us in line, to keep us fearful, to keep us quiet. Fear won’t silence me. I'll walk into these flames alone, but I welcome you to join a witch.

FLOCK You, and Your Cameras

In our Orwellian surveillance state, the deployment of FLOCK cameras by law enforcement agencies across the nation raises grave concerns about the violation of constitutional rights. These omnipresent vultures swooop in during the lack of presence of humans to prey on  individuals and their past lives, unjustly and without due regard under the guise of "safety." Imagine this: You’re cruising down the freeway, humming to your favorite tune, when suddenly, your car is flagged by a rogue AI that thinks your license plate is a national security threat. Next thing you know, your afternoon road trip turns into a nationwide manhunt. Welcome to the absurdity of modern surveillance, where privacy is just a conspiracy theory and due process is more of a "suggestion" than a right.

These automated license plate readers (ALPRs) are like digital parasites, leeching data from every vehicle that crosses their path 24/7, indiscriminately feasting on our privacy. Operating 24/7, these tools of the greatest mafia in the world indiscriminately capture and store data on every vehicle that passes by its big brotherly eye. The use of  FLOCK-intrusive devices has not only compromised our privacy but also justified the extortion levied by so-called protectors who utilize the data to morph their counties into cash cows-- fattening the coffers of local government officials' wallets at the expense of innocent individuals.

If you think FLOCK cameras are just another harmless tech gadget, think again. These Orwellian eyes in the sky do more than merely watch; they infringe on our fundamental rights, turning every driver into a potential suspect. Imagine a real-life version of Minority Report, where you're guilty until proven innocent, and your every move is preemptively scrutinized. As we delve deeper into this digital dystopia, it's crucial to expose how these devices trample on our constitutional freedoms. From unauthorized surveillance to unwarranted data collection, the true cost of these high-tech intruders is our liberty.

Fourth Amendment Erosion: Unreasonable Searches and Seizures

The Fourth Amendment of the United States Constitution is a bulwark against tyranny, designed to protect citizens from unreasonable searches and seizures. It explicitly states that warrants must be judicially sanctioned and supported by probable cause. Yet, in our surveillance-happy society, FLOCK cameras flout these protections daily. These automated license plate readers (ALPRs) operate without warrants, probable cause, or any semblance of judicial oversight, capturing detailed records of our movements. This constant surveillance constitutes an unreasonable search, infringing on our right to privacy.

In stories buried deeper than Jimmy Hoffa, consider the case of Michael Carswell, a Georgia resident who was wrongfully detained after a FLOCK camera flagged his vehicle as connected to a crime he had zero involvement in. His vehicle was scanned, and the data stored, without his knowledge or consent. A baseless stop was a clear violation of his Fourth Amendment rights, as there was no warrant or probable cause for the surveillance and subsequent detention.

In another disturbing instance, a woman in California found herself repeatedly pulled over after her license plate was incorrectly flagged by ALPRs. Despite being completely innocent, her daily commute turned into a recurring nightmare of police harassment, all due to these faulty, unregulated surveillance tools.

These real-life examples highlight the dire consequences of unchecked mass data collection. The Fourth Amendment was crafted to prevent such overreach, yet FLOCK cameras blatantly violate the essence of these protections. They operate under the presumption that every driver is a suspect, thereby eroding the foundational principle that individuals are innocent until proven guilty.

This mass surveillance isn't just a minor inconvenience—it's a constitutional crisis. The Fourth Amendment is not a relic of the past; it is a vital safeguard against the encroachment of state power on individual freedoms. By allowing FLOCK cameras to continue operating without restraint, we are complicit in the erosion of our constitutional rights. 

Chilling Effect on Freedom of Association--A Threat to Your First Amendment 

The First Amendment guarantees our right to freely associate, yet the pervasive use of FLOCK cameras creates a chilling effect on this freedom. Knowing that their movements are being recorded, individuals may avoid attending protests, political rallies, or religious gatherings, fearing government scrutiny. This surveillance undermines our ability to associate freely without fear of repercussion.

A real-life example highlighting this issue is the case of Martin Petrosky in Gwinnett County. Petrosky, a local activist, noticed a significant drop in attendance at community protests after the installation of FLOCK cameras. People feared that their participation in these events could lead to unwanted attention or repercussions from law enforcement. This fear is not unfounded, as the cameras capture detailed records of every vehicle passing by, allowing authorities to monitor the movements of individuals attending such gatherings.

The experience of Gwinnett County further illustrates the point. Local officials installed nearly 800 FLOCK cameras, with plans to add more in "high crime" areas. However, State Rep. Donna McLeod raised concerns about the cameras disproportionately targeting Black neighborhoods, where residents felt their movements were being unfairly monitored and scrutinized. This led to an open records request to investigate the placement and use of these cameras, revealing that a significant percentage of arrests and citations were in predominantly Black areas​ (WSBTV)​​ (ajc)​.

These examples underscore how the deployment of FLOCK cameras not only infringes on our Fourth Amendment rights but also threatens our First Amendment freedoms. The fear of constant surveillance can deter individuals from exercising their right to freely associate, which is a fundamental aspect of a democratic society.

Due Process and Equal Protection are Not Just Fancy Legal Terms

The Fourteenth Amendment ensures due process and equal protection under the law. Before we dive into the dystopian mess that is FLOCK cameras, let’s revisit what the Fourteenth Amendment actually says. 

Passed in 1868, this glorious piece of legislation isn’t just for historical nerds. It’s the bedrock of American civil liberties, providing two key protections:

1. Due Process Clause: This little gem ensures that no one is deprived of life, liberty, or property without fair legal procedures. In other words, the government can’t just throw you under the bus without letting you defend yourself first.

2. Equal Protection Clause: This beauty guarantees that everyone gets a fair shake under the law, regardless of race, color, or creed. Think of it as the constitutional equivalent of a “No VIPs Allowed” sign for legal protection.

Now, enter FLOCK cameras—those delightful gadgets that make Big Brother look like a privacy enthusiast. FLOCK cameras are touted as the “ultimate” in surveillance, but they come with a side of constitutional chaos. Here’s why: 

Due Process? More Like Due Distress!FLOCK cameras don’t just snap photos; they create a digital dossier on every unsuspecting soul who passes by. If your data gets mixed up (because, obviously, the AI never makes mistakes), good luck trying to clear your name. The process to challenge erroneous data is about as smooth as a porcupine massage.

And Equal Protection? That’s a Laugh! FLOCK cameras are deployed with the precision of a toddler’s drawing—usually in minority and low-income neighborhoods. The result? A surveillance scheme that feels less like safety and more like a modern-day Scarlet Letter. These cameras don’t just track your car; they amplify existing inequalities by focusing law enforcement efforts disproportionately on certain communities.

In terms of your Fourteenth Amendment real-life violation tale; in New York City, a man found himself wrongfully tagged as a suspect due to a misidentified license plate. His entire life was turned upside down as he navigated a legal labyrinth to prove his innocence.  

In California, facial recognition technology has raised alarms about privacy invasion. Individuals have found themselves wrongly identified and scrutinized based on flawed facial recognition algorithms. The ACLU Report dives deep into these chilling examples of privacy violations.

Real-Life Stories: Innocent Lives Disrupted

When Your Face Is the Wrong Face: Robert Williams’ Surveillance Snafu

 Let’s dive into the riveting saga of Robert Williams, who discovered that being in the wrong place at the wrong time can also mean being misidentified by a rogue facial recognition system. In 2020, Detroit’s finest (or should we say, most technologically challenged) decided that Williams’ face was a dead ringer for a shoplifting suspect. What’s more, they didn’t bother to verify with any old-school methods—why double-check when you’ve got tech magic to rely on, right?

Williams, a model citizen (except for this unfortunate tech mishap), was scooped up by the cops and carted off to jail based on an algorithm that thought his face was the doppelgänger of a petty thief. It’s almost poetic how technology, which should be our friend, turned into a surveillance monster that had Williams fighting to prove he wasn’t a criminal. The case highlights how a blurry, glitch-ridden tech marvel can turn someone’s life upside down faster than you can say “wrong place, wrong time.” (Robert Williams' Face-Recognition Fiasco )

Silencing Sara Thompson 

A dedicated local activist who once rallied for neighborhood improvements with the enthusiasm of a civic superhero, Sara Thompson, took on local government. But when the city decided to deploy FLOCK cameras with the precision of a kid in a candy store, Sara’s activist spirit faced an unexpected chill.

Sara had been passionately organizing community events and protests to address local issues. However, when news broke that surveillance cameras were popping up everywhere—monitoring every street corner and park—Sara began to feel like she was starring in her very own thriller movie, minus the Hollywood glam. The idea of being constantly watched made her rethink her involvement. Would her face end up on a "Most Wanted" list for organizing a neighborhood cleanup?

Her fears weren’t unfounded. The extensive surveillance led to a palpable decline in community participation. Neighbors who once joined Sara’s initiatives now avoided them like they were trying to dodge a viral meme. The threat of being tracked and potentially targeted for their civic engagement led many to retreat into the safety of their homes, far from the prying eyes of the surveillance state.

Sara’s story illustrates a glaring issue: surveillance can stifle community involvement, turning vibrant activism into a shadow of its former self. The very technology meant to keep order can end up strangling the lifeblood of public participation and free expression.

Operation Southern Shake Down: Escalation of Constitutional Violations

Couple the strengths of this constitution-violating beast, with the annually re-named summer extortion program -- this year known aptly as Operation Southern Slow Down -- the latest in a series of grandiose governmental spectacles--this purported safety crusade turns the constitution into a full-blown circus. Operation Southern Slow Down. Running from July 15 to July 20, 2024, Operation Southern Slow Down --and each annual rendition of it--is equivocally the "Greatest Show on Earth," with a parade of speed cameras and ticket blitzkrieg to fuel the judicial economy. Ostensibly, this operation boasts about making our roads safer and cutting down on those pesky speed demons. In reality, it is less of a safety initiative and more of a “how can we extract as many fines as possible” extravaganza. 

The Great Speed Trap Spectacle: More Than Meets the Eye

Operation Southern Slow Down was advertised as a noble effort to curb speeding and make our roads as safe as a bubble-wrapped playground. But peel back the glittering veneer, and you’ll find a different story. The operation relied heavily on FLOCK cameras—those infamous digital tattletales that are less about catching criminals and more about catching every motorist in a speed trap.

Here’s where it gets really juicy: the use of these cameras during the operation was not just about ticketing; it was about setting up a surveillance network under the guise of road safety. With every snap of a camera, the FLOCK system wasn’t just recording speed; it was building a sprawling digital dossier of every driver’s movements. The catch? Motorists had no way of challenging these tickets or even knowing if the data collected was accurate.

The Constitutional Conundrum: Ticketing or Treading on Rights?

What makes Operation Southern Slow Down particularly troubling is its method of enforcement. Imagine a world where your every move on the road is tracked, recorded, and monetized—all in the name of public safety. The initiative didn’t just push the envelope; it shoved it through the shredder of constitutional rights.

With aggressive ticketing practices and the unconstitutional enforcement of traffic laws, this operation wasn’t just about slowing down traffic; it was about speeding up the erosion of privacy and due process. The heavy-handed approach turned a simple traffic initiative into a constitutional quagmire, where every speeding ticket was a reminder of how little control we have over our personal data.

Government Overreach on the Fast Track -- From Speed Traps to Document Dragnets

The operation highlighted the broader issue of the mandatory enforcement of licenses and other documents. As part of a larger, more insidious movement that’s transforming your right to move freely into a bureaucratic obstacle course, these requirements, often touted as necessary for public safety, can instead be viewed as tools for government overreach, encroaching on personal freedoms. Here’s where things get really spicy. The fundamental right to travel is enshrined in our Constitution, a principle that’s supposed to allow us to move about without undue interference. Yet, with every FLOCK camera flash and every document mandate, it feels like that right is being slowly strangled by the twin forces of surveillance and bureaucracy.

The cameras and the paperwork are sold as tools for public safety, but they raise serious constitutional concerns. When your freedom to travel becomes contingent on government-issued documents and the watchful eye of surveillance technology, it’s hard not to see a larger agenda at play. Are we really making our roads safer, or are we simply trading away our liberties for the illusion of security? The obligation to carry and present these documents under threat of penalty not only imposes a financial burden but also raises significant constitutional concerns. It's an ongoing battle between perceived safety measures and the preservation of individual liberties.

Financial Windfall for Counties: The Dark Side of Surveillance

The cumulative effect of these practices is a substantial revenue stream for local governments. By turning traffic enforcement into a lucrative business, authorities prioritize financial gain over genuine public safety. How delightful it must be for local governments to watch their bank accounts swell while pretending to champion public safety! Isn’t it fascinating how traffic enforcement has magically transformed into a cash cow? What better way to keep the lights on than by masking a revenue-generating scheme as a noble crusade against reckless driving?

These clever masterminds are milking the system under the pretense of protecting motorists. But let’s be real—if their primary concern was your well-being, wouldn’t they invest more in actual safety measures instead of just setting up elaborate traps? No, no, instead they’ve decided that a flashy photo-enforced fine is a far more lucrative option. Who needs road safety when you can have a fat stack of tickets filling the government coffers?

Demanding Accountability and Transparency

It's high time we told the authorities: FLOCK you and your cameras! It’s time to flip the script on these so-called “FLOCK” cameras and tell the authorities exactly where they can shove their surveillance schemes! If you’ve ever wondered why your privacy is treated like an afterthought while these camera systems are installed with all the finesse of a cheap magician’s trick, you’re not alone. Enough is enough.

Let’s be real—these cameras are not the shiny new gadgets of public safety; they’re the uninvited guests at the privacy party. Our personal freedoms are being auctioned off to the highest bidder while these FLOCK cameras rake in the dough. It’s like Black Friday, but instead of discounted TVs, it’s our civil liberties on clearance.  

• No more shadowy operations. We need to know who’s watching, how they’re watching, and why they’re so obsessed with your driving habits. 
• Enough of this “surveillance first, ask questions later” nonsense. We need a solid, Fourth Amendment-friendly reason before anyone gets a peek at our personal data.
• Made a mistake? Tough luck if you’re dealing with FLOCK’s data. Let’s get a system in place to fix their blunders before they cost us our rights.

In this bizarre dystopia where our rights are auctioned off and sold to the highest bidder, we must fight back against this invasion of our privacy and not let these cameras become the latest surveillance trend. It’s time to stop these invasions of our personal lives and demand a halt to the creeping encroachment on our freedoms.  

It's More Than Personal

It’s not just a matter of principle for this author; it’s deeply personal. In 2009, my father was the victim of a horrific motorcycle accident, but this was no ordinary crash. A group of individuals tied to the mafia deliberately ran him off the road, their intent clear—murder. The cameras were rolling, documenting every moment. Yet, despite the glaring evidence, the local police and the FBI, who were shockingly intertwined with the very mafia members involved, turned a blind eye.

The mafia boss behind this attack was Thomas Fiore, a figure whose influence was so pervasive that it shielded his cronies from justice. The details of that day are harrowing. As my father lay in critical condition, fighting for his life, the authorities, who were supposed to uphold the law, were actively obstructing it. They dismissed any evidence, claiming it didn’t exist, all while the cameras that could have provided crucial evidence were conveniently ignored.

Fiore's criminal operations were not just limited to this brutal assault on business owner John Jimenez. The case would further highlight the reach and power of organized crime in these corrupt agencies and departments which included extortion and money laundering. 

The details of the Jimenez assault are well-documented, exposing Fiore’s ruthless tactics and the systemic corruption that allowed such violence to go unchecked, despite the evidence to put him away being in the hands of 'justice.'

My father’s case, with its chilling reminder of how corruption can stifle justice, is a stark illustration of why we must fiercely protect our privacy and challenge invasive surveillance. The trauma of witnessing firsthand how the system can fail you due to deep-seated corruption fuels my relentless fight against these modern-day surveillance abuses. 

It’s not just about policy; it’s about justice, integrity, and ensuring that no one else suffers the same betrayal that my family did.

Where Liberty Stands: When Enough is Enough

What does liberty stand for in a time when the defining symbols of the word have been leveraged for a sense of presumed “tolerance” and security; distorted by politicians for a vote; and commercialized by the very companies supporting all sides of war, hierarchies, and control? What is liberty but a word whose meaning has been contorted over the centuries of misplaced anger and dependence-stricken societies to mean anything but what it once stood for? As a tool it has been used to inspire events such as the burning times, and synonymously with the concepts of terrorism.

Is terrorism the look of liberty to those who’ve never set a foot out of their comfort zone to stand for something they believe in? Regrettably, it is the charge of freedom to demand a people face these ridicules if they wish to live unmastered by an overextended government. Though we would identify as anything, but terrorists; the truth of our story will not be discovered until long after our passing and after years of demonization by those who control the masses. Our story will be told by people who are labeled conspiracy theorists, non-conformists, and tin-foil hat wearers. People like our good friend “Martin”- whose resolve has left

him behind bars; confined to house confinement for a year following his sentence; and extensively extorted for good measure – suffer for our incompetence in seeing a problem with being locked away for driving without the proper state-approved permission slips on your vehicle. People like yours truly, who one day forgot to take their daily dose of compliance elixir before being accosted by Atlanta’s finest, simply for taking too long to load at the airport. The people who’ve simply decided they’ve had enough bending to the rule of the state for the sake of keeping order and generating revenue for a corrupt system.

The truth is We never win. Too many – even amidst the wolves – fail to see the honor in our effort, because they are still compelled to cling to the rule of man, for a false sense of security that will never be theirs, lest they become willing to take it with their own hands, and at the risk of their own flesh and blood. This level of awareness is rare, but growing, as it requires a way of thinking that expounds beyond the confining rationale of human thought and etiquette to accept that which it cannot fathom as a possibility without trapping the seeker to believing firmly one way or another. So damning are the anti-qualities of these ideals, because they serve only one purpose: fueling fear – through which arises anger and hatred.

Many will look upon these individuals in detest, cursing their actions as senseless, and even anarchist. First, it’s necessary to acknowledge that not all of these instances involving defiance against the state are part of an elaborate move to make asses out of police or civilians. Equivocally, we can concede that some are indeed poor cries for attention. Regardless, the ones that hold a firm ground in truth and reality ought to serve – even to the newly awakening mind – as a tool of learning and growth; whether it be what to do or what not to do. As liberty’s call waits for no one to be ready, no one can simply say they will never be in a position to take such a stand. This comes from experience, as once upon a time – and even as the writer for such events – I never suspected I would be the one defying the overstepping of law up close and personal. It was clear to me that I had people for that, and I was just the writer. But as my mentors in freedom have discovered for themselves and as I did for myself, you don’t get to pick your battle. The battle picks you. Unfortunately, that’s something that you will likely never understand, until it happens to you. Hopefully whatever straw breaks your back, and demands your action will not see you dragged across the coal. While my own consequences have yet to be decided, our dear friend has already undergone tremendous tortures for his actions. Daniel Crumpton put it eloquently, but here’s my summary of his words: If you’re not prepared to accept the burden of the consequences, it’s safer to avoid committing the stand. Some battles come with little fines and community service. Other opportunities mean prison time. Your willingness to tangle with those real serious consequences should ultimately affect your actions.

 “When citizens stop complying with laws, the legitimacy of government comes into question, especially in nondemocratic states -- or so goes a prominent strand of political thinking. But what if citizens are doing something subtler, such as disobeying in order to enact smaller, more incremental changes?”

In the meantime, others condemn individuals of such rebellious behaviors as terrorists, non-conformists, extremists, anarchists, witches… So readily we commit them to the charges that come with these labels simple because we do not understand the point they are trying to make. For the most part, humans enjoy law and order (not just the hit TV show either). They take comfort in the knowledge that someone can always be held accountable. This kind of thinking leads to the exact mess we are in today. Sadly, not many have experienced their final straw, their breaking point, or their “liberty-calling.” Many more never will. Doomed are we who see a future un-ruled by dictators with armies and henchmen, but rather, communities of people doing what people ought to do for one another; because we are before our time – we are the betas.

Until more are faced with their enough-is-enough circumstance, and liberty - in all her glory - is sitting on their shoulder whispering that it’s time to say “no;” the few of us who have stood and will continue to do so will be found locked away for later burning at the stake. That’s where Liberty stands.

The time is quickly approaching where people in mass will be faced with Liberty’s calling, demanding them to fight or comply. The question is: when your label alone condemns you to the flame – will you go peacefully, or taking as many down with you?  Eventually this movement will call for patriots to stop convicting one another and start showing compassion even for the positions we may not fully comprehend. In going forward, I can only hope that when your personal calling to fight presents itself, you respond with grace and refined sense; and remember patriots – freedom responsibly.

“I Am”: The Cost of Liberty, the Exchange: Security?

 America has long been known as the “land of the free.” The cost of that freedom is often held in regard only by those who’ve made the ultimate sacrifice to ensure that freedom. Veiled in anonymity under a shadow of collectivized terms as: the military or soldiers, we forget the individuals behind that veil. We neglect the individual sacrifices they have made—whether it be their lives, time,  or money.

Sadly, this collectivism does not exist amongst civilians. Individuality plagues citizens so rampantly in our American culture that, by it, we’ve allowed liberty to come under fire through a failure to recognize it was ever being stolen. In fact, the collective citizens have become sheep herded by the law of man, rather than participants in the law of nature.

Bill after bill, we have complied with the passing of laws that gave man dominion over another man—and we did it under the guise of security and accountability. Once upon a time, people within a community worked to support each other. They exchanged goods and services, and communicated regularly. When war came upon a people, everyone who was able participated in the fight.  As we became less focused on the well-being of the whole, and more focused on the individual (fueled by greed and selfishness) needs, we began pulling away from this system. Largely on account of reducing our own personal responsibilities, people opted to pay taxes to support those who would fight in their stead.

While this ideology is archaic to say the least, the mentality has evolved and is the root of much destruction and chaos in our country (well, honestly the world, but let’s stayfocused on America).  As we’ve “progressed” our nation, and taken every action imaginable to deflect personal responsibility; individuality and the means to neglect ones environment have arisen and acted as direct contributions towards disunity, crime, and corruption.  As we’ve seen in past stories covered by Divine America, the collective people have sacrificed liberty in the pursuit of this hand-fed security. In our desire to retain as little responsibility as possible for our communities, it’s no wonder there is a presumption of a rising “police state.” Our failure in conducting the very checks and balances to prevent such a state is the reaping of the seeds we’ve sown.  You got what you paid for. Now, on account of  a couple of bad seeds and  an immensely, negatively-fueled media, there’s another line in the sand created by the elite, and crossed by the citizens; and it’s used to increase disharmony and paint a clear target on the backs of the very people we’ve paid to “protect” us. Did we forget that a uniform does not a hero make?

Having the displeasure of witnessing this shredding of the American culture and society, we can see the crippling of the hearts of the patriots, and a sense of immobility, despair, and defeat. And with the surmounting lines being drawn, a mentality is developed, and wars inspired. As a result, more people will be harmed by the fight or flight response that officers are forced to embrace when they encounter citizens. The people will then cry for more legislation and punishment towards officers. Every discharge of a weapon in response to criminal activity will come under question, and we will eventually not even have those few who will stand in our defense locally, because we’ve pitted the duty of the job against them, and sided with justice for the obvious criminal.

Regardless, the cry for further laws to keep us “safe” has been by far the most asinine measure we’ve taken in search of our individual happiness; and has ultimately been the largest cost the citizens have paid towards securing our own well-being. Of course, when blinded by the new concept of what well-being truly is--a state of finances--it should come as no surprise that we sit in the cesspool of corruption and greed.

As we reflect over the year we’ve had at Divine America, we are forced to recall these corruptions in action. Taken aback to our dear friend “Martin,” we see one man’s individual fight for a liberty that has been perverted by those who would use it to control and extort people. In his plea to the courts to be free of a mandated identity procured by a piece of paper and upheld by a plastic card, our dear friend sought to remind the people of the Lord’s words and warning. Not a far stretch from original pagan-man’s understanding of the power behind knowing another man’s name, “Martin” restates, “I AM THAT I AM,” a man with the right to travel freely with his property and without the threat of extortion from the henchmen of the state who blindly follow orders.

However, We The People saw fit to discard that liberty. In fact, we demanded identity be more than a term one is provided as a reference. And why? Accountability. There’s proof behind a document after all, and having that proof enables us to sue the pants off each other to achieve our financial well-being. Unfortunately, to get these papers one must commit to redefining their liberties by subjecting themselves to the laws of man—a series of rules and compliances one must live by in exchange for protection from the thugs of the state in addition to the thugs of the citizenry. Under these rules, personal responsibility is not required; and accountability becomes an effortless pursuit of fraudulence that allows for unconstitutional subjections to unwanted extortions.

How’s the exchange working out for you now? You know, now that you pay egads of dollars into auto insurance, medical insurance, home owners insurance, and so on.

Our dear friend is not alone in his fight for the restoration of liberty and it has not been without its setbacks, as even those among the “awakened” demand compliance with certain laws of man for that wonderful accountability. On account of those individuals and to update you on our dear friend’s situation; the Man alleged to be “Martin P-E-T-R-O-S-K-Y” (for the umpteenth time)—despite numerous attempts to pay restitution to the person known as “STATE”—has been found guilty of criminal activity, simply for driving without a tag. When considering the corrupt state of affairs being carried out by the Dekalb County Court , the lack of knowledge regarding their job description, the strategy utilized in trampling the first amendment, and—as Divine America hascome to learn in the latest interview with “Martin”—the apparent power of Judge Wong to act and speak for the defendant; it leaves little to the imagination as to how our dear friend will be sentenced. With initial settlements proffering time in jail (up to three years), probation, and fines surmounting thousands of dollars, it begs to question not only if people truly believe the lack of a piece of paper warrants such response, but if our dear friend’s family deserves to suffer as much as the court would like them to. “Martin” being the sole provider for his family would certainly witness the destruction of his family’s well-being.

Regardless of how you personally feel about compliance to the state mandates, many might at least agree that no one deserves to be violently ripped from their vehicle through a window and taken prisoner when no harm has been executed against another living being. But, despite having the acceptable forms of all those protections and accountabilities, a passive decision to stand against such extortions (just by not handing it over) ultimately contributed to our dear friend’s brutal attack, kidnapping, and imprisonment at the hands of thugs.  While some may consider his actions intolerable, our dear friend did this and stands by his consequences not for himself, but for the good of the people who would otherwise submit to these indignities. In hopes of enlightening people to the liberties we’ve allowed to slip away, “Martin” subjected himself to the dangers of disregarding the state’s rules of paperwork.

Now, as we throw around such terms of endearment as “crazy,” “anarchist,” and

“right-wing nut,” towards our dear friend, we ought to take a moment to recognize that it takes all kinds of kinds. People like our dear, crazy friend fighting for lost liberties of all natures, exist in many different arenas. Some people hold signs of protest on the streets, over bridges, and at local capitol buildings. Others like to voice themselves on social media. And then there’s some who give a shout out over a megaphone on White House gate at one in the morning.

While many have funny ways of drawing their lines in the sand of laws they willingly obey and those they won’t, we come across those who have stepped forth to bring about the awakening of the masses. Patriots such as former Oathkeeper member, Bill Looman—who has dedicated himself to the fight for liberty not only in his service as Marine, but as a loyal servant and spokesman of our Nation’s citizens—is one that has been met with ridicule and endured personal sacrifice on scales unimaginable to the average Joe.

Far from his first or last rodeo to spark awareness, Bill Looman has marched to the frontlines of our battlefield—the Nation’s capital—along with other such as Manny Vega and Blaine Cooper, to announce on their megaphone that We The People have had enough. It is apparent these efforts have fallen on deaf ears, but who even among the so-called three percent patriots has truly committed themselves in such ways? Who among us has already demonstrated the tuck-tail and turn-back strategy that elected leaders have come to expect and to which has contributed to the ridicule of which the patriot movement?

Effectively, the backlash by which the patriot movement has been reduced begs to have questions answered that not many are ready or willing to ask themselves. How much longer are you willing to stand by watching the nation destroyed by the elite who would define for us what actions are legal and illegal? Will you wait for it to come to your front door? Will you “bug out” to the woods and practice all that awesome primitive survival stuff you’ve working on?

It’s time for truth. What wars may come, will come. Most likely, not in our time—especially if we continue to sit and wait. Our children, though, and their children can count on the fight being entirely removed from their ideologies. They will be the bearers of the burdens to which we neglected to respond appropriately. So as you sit there, waiting for the so-called “shit to hit the fan” on your doorstep or in your backyard; know this:  that’s not going to happen.

However, as you continue to embrace and push for further legislation to keep you safe, realize you are only dooming the future of this country. You are just as guilty as those who would write such laws that will eventually see this nation crumble. Our failure now will be the consequence for which our children will suffer. And when the time comes and you are put before your creator, consider what your judgment will be for failing to do your part in preserving liberty. There is no cost greater than life, and it’s one only a few are willing to pay. Would you? We all have to die some time.