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Take Back Santa Cruz leader pulls no punches

by TBSC Snopes
The Facebook group is a closed dialogue. According to the Facebook policy link " We initially created this Facebook presence as a closed group to minimize spam and encourage frank speech. As we have grown, we have come to realize the need for gentle reminders to stay on point. The goal of public safety should remain at the center of all page activity." The following thread is an example of just some of the "frank" speech and personal attacks on any voice of dissent. In addition to marking the three year anniversary of the tragic deaths of two Santa Cruz Police Officers, it also marks a dark episode when a man served 18 days in jail for a crime he did not commit.
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February 26 marked the three year anniversary of a tragic deaths of two beloved Santa Cruz Police Officers. On Feb 26 2013 Santa Cruz Police Officers Butch Baker and Elizabeth Butler were killed in the line of duty. It would mark the first deaths in the Department history.
Subsequent to the tragedy, the community came together and mourned and supported the Santa Cruz Police Department at various memorials . A larger public memorial was held in San Jose HP Pavilion on March 7. The community was in a state of mourning.

At one of the community memorials , a sharp-eyed Take Back Santa Cruz member saw what looked like to be a homeless man stealing from a memorial of flowers and other gifts which were left by the public. The man, Kenneth Maffei, was arrested and jailed for 18 days , despite having evidence on his person to corroborate his story. Despite what the Take Back Santa Cruz member saw, he had a receipt for the flowers that he was supposedly stealing. Truth would reveal that the man was neither homeless nor guilty of theft. Maffei was near the incident when Baker and Butler were killed on Feb. 26 so he del t compelled to attend the memorial to pay his respect.

In a Sentinel story published upon the dismissal of charges and release of Mr Maffei, “"This case was a classic 'rush to judgment' -- from the arrest, to the high bail (at arrest), to the harsh judgments in the media," Biggam said. "Mr. Maffei has been demonized and has served 18 days in jail for a crime he did not do.
"Yes, these are difficult and sensitive times in our community, and I understand people's concerns. But we need to address those concerns with facts, not fear, and with fairness, not prejudgments."
Maffei was nearby when Baker and Butler were killed by a suspect Feb. 26. He went to the street-side memorial to pay his respects, Biggam said.
Another defense attorney, Jack Lamar Jr., came to court with a letter from Erika Hearon of the Davenport Resource Service Center stating Maffei had been a "valuable volunteer" for several years.
Biggam said Maffei was not a "transient," as police stated, but has lived in Santa Cruz for 31 years.
The defense found a receipt for the flowers among Maffei's belongings in County Jail, Lamar said. “
http://www.santacruzsentinel.com/article/ZZ/20130321/NEWS/130327878



In the following thread from the Take Back Santa Cruz Facebook page you can get a feeling for what an electronic age lynch mob looks like. It comes complete threats of violence toward Maffei, an alleged police officer calling him an “A hole” on behalf of the SCPD, and shouts to screen people using Homeless Service Center, despite the fact that Maffei wasn’t homeless. There’s name calling, posting of Maffei’s personal information, and a call to fill the courtroom when he’s scheduled to stand in front of the judge. Of note is a City Council member participating in the dialogue and when a commenter tries to point out that the conversation is heading in a dark direction, that person is attacked. Note the comments near the end of the thread. This entire episode should be alarming to every citizen who puts faith in the judicial system and the presumption of innocence. Take Back Santa Cruz has an amazing ability amplify the angry mob , the meanest, most hateful voices in the room in a closed echo chamber of a conversation. It is important to note that the person who submitted the original post for approval is no longer a member of the Facebook group.
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by TBSC Snopes
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Analicia Cube violating TBSC Rules, referring to Maffei as a Piece of Shit
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by TBSC Snopes
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Analicia Cube encouraging members to engage Mr Maffei if they see him
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by TBSC Snopes
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by TBSC Snopes
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by TBSC Snopes
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A Santa Cruz Police Officer speaking for the Department
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by TBSC Snopes
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baling liberals is a common topic. Liberals are to blame for nearly all the ills of society
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by TBSC Snopes
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by TBSC Snopes
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A member points out the inappropriate name calling and Samantha Simon Olden objects .
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by TBSC Snopes
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by TBSC Snopes
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A now absent member points out the irony of how a member is attacked.
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by TBSC Snopes
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John Cohen-Colby
Mon, Mar 7, 2016 11:27PM
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John Cohen-Colby
Sat, Feb 27, 2016 9:54PM
Downtown Rodent
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