Katie Sponsler
@KatieSponsler
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6,990
Following
299
Media
264
Statuses
3,193
Tired of having my whole bio here, so I am whatever you assume I am. “Late diagnosed, deep masking” Autistic, now I don’t give a shit what you think, mask off.
Colonial Heights, VA
Joined February 2017
Don't wanna be here?
Send us removal request.
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I have been taught to yell “stop resisting” and “drop your weapon” after firing a gun, because bystanders will remember you said it and their memory will automatically reverse the order of the events to make it make sense. Their testimony will support yours, because of this.
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When I questioned these things in my third academy, and stated that they were inconsistent with the ethics of policing, I was kicked out of the academy on my last day. I had completed and excelled at all the graded tasks, but was told “you aren’t what we want in our force.”
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I have been told that deescalation techniques will get me and other officers killed and as a smaller LEO, I was justified escalating my use of force faster than my colleagues because I was always in danger so I should use it.
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I’ve been told all of these things in formal, controlled and regulated Police Academies. I have gone through 3. I have heard some of these things more than once.
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During my campaign for the HoD I got lambasted by my Republican opponent for saying, “I know cops, I’ve worked with them, trained with them, and some of them are my friends, some are not, and some of them are murderers.” I know it’s not politically expedient, but…
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I have been told to “loosen up and have fun, it’s fun! Why are you so serious?” When doing a shoot/don’t shoot scenario training.
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I loved my job. I gave a lot to do it for 5 years. In that time, I never broke leather on my holster. I never fired my taser. I put my hands on an individual twice, both times a simple arm bar hold that immediately caused both individuals to comply. Neither individual was hurt.
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In 4 words, a police academy commander ended my career. “You done belong here.” After 16 years of federal service without a single complaint or write up, I lost any chance of working the final 4 years I needed for retirement.
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I still believe in resource protection, it matters, but I no longer believe the system of policing we have is the way to achieve it.
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I have been in many sticky situations in that time. Faced several armed individuals. I worked in a National Park, yes, but in a high crime area. Being a park ranger, means working alone most of the time. I could not afford to escalate a situation, and I didn’t.
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With student loan debt, living in a new city, with a teenager, I lost my job, my insurance, and the ability to use the education and experience I had worked so hard to achieve.
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PSA:
I spent today at a funeral for a 14 year old. Please my loves, if your child is suffering from depression and you are aware of it, remove the firearms from your home. I don’t care what your 2A views are, find a friend you trust and remove their access to firearms, please.
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@neveriswhen
I was written up several times for “poor attitude” and “insubordination” they are arbitrary and applied frequently to LEOs who don’t toe the line, but in the fiend they are durable offenses. I think they waited until the last day of the academy because they were hoping I’d fail.
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I’m just thinking that if Universities don’t want community members on their property they should stop buying so much of the community🤷♀️
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@kakanicat
@IMontoyaInsists
That study is used a lot. What’s strange is that depending on the instructor “weak” could be “non-aggressive” or “sloppy.” Sometimes it was used to justify an overly aggressive presence and sometime it just meant don’t come in here looking like a soup sandwich.
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@bit_side
I’ve always said I get along with COS because they are like resource officers in that way. They are always outnumbered and need to learn deescalation is key. We cannot afford to pick fights. Also we both get no respect.
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Hi! Just checking in to say to those who are new here that I am an actual person, that’s my real name and picture and yes my real bio ⬆️ I am an actual mother who, even when running for state office, has never had folks pay much attention to my Twitter before yesterday.
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@AnaMardoll
My 6 year old frequently repeats words without fully understanding them and has decided that “expelled” “executed” and “exiled” are all the same word. Hence requesting that a classmate get “executed” for bullying the other day. It was uncomfortable.
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@Saneinthesouth
I’ve never had the kind of money to hire an attorney and was honestly just trying to figure out how to feed my kid after this. Now I figure not contesting it gives me leeway to be more open as there are no legal agreements in place like gag orders, and my family and I are ok🤷♀️
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Folks are saying that kids can’t socialize normally with masks and distancing.
My kindergartner comes home every day with a new “best friend” and a new “mortal enemy” so it seems that things are going pretty normal to me🤷♀️
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There’s a whole lot of grown ass men with fake Twitter handles and cartoons for profile pictures telling a 17 year old kid who uses his real name and says what he believes in, that if he wants to play with the big dogs he better learn to take their harassment right now.
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@OfficialCLM
@deray
NPS training is some of the longest of the federal forces, as for similarities the three academies I’ve attended were 1) An Ohio State police certification, 2) a seasonal federal resource officer certification (covers all federal resource officers) and 3) FLETC
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I’m not perfect or always good or right, I’m not even interesting most days. I’m just a person that shared my experience. So if you could, just keep that in mind when typing stuff from behind a screen name and avatar. Thanks! Love, light, and one foot in front of the other!
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@generic4532
My park was in an Urban area. 7K acres split between 3 urban environments actually. I worked at a battlefield and most of my policing contacts were with people using the park as a cut-through, not “visitors” It is different, you’re right. I had no back up most days…
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@angharadyeo
@neveriswhen
Sorry, this is the second time I’ve clarified this, so it must not be clear. I was never written up or had a complaint on duty in the field for the 16 years I served in the military and NPS. I WAS written up at the academy, in my final training experience. Only in training.
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@donnyL78
@neveriswhen
In the academy I was written up, I was NEVER written up in the field. In my actual work both military and LE with NPS, I had an exemplary record. Seriously, I got medals and accommodations and stuff🤷♀️
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@Kia_Nay
To this extent? Yes. I’ve spoken about my story as a candidate, and talked about the problems I encountered publicly. On a local radio show, etc. Honestly, this extent of reach has never been given to me.
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Also, I have nothing to promote. I don’t need your money, I have food and a roof, there has been times I haven’t but I’m ok these days. Support a local bail fund, donate to a local politician that supports real CJ reform and doesn’t just give lip service to it, f
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In the 24 hours since he’s announced his run for Senate, Adam Schiff has sent me no less than 70 bajillion fundraising emails. At first I found it annoying, but now I’ve gotten pretty excited to see what mundane detail about his life the next one will reveal and I’m riveted.
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@Kia_Nay
I’m uncomfortable with the amount of shares and views I’m seeing here. I wrote this thread because I was angry with people insisting that police reform can be solved with more training after Tyre’s murder. I never expected it to be this big.
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@generic4532
Sorry, to ramble, not offended but do want folks to understand that we do do a lot of the work that other officers do. I loved the fact that my job allowed me to wear 1000 hats and truly focus on the service work that LEOs are supposed to do.
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@Kia_Nay
It’s terrifying to be honest. I have always tried to express my experience to folks when given the chance but to suddenly have a trauma shared with a million people can be a bit overwhelming. I’ve never had connections or money so I’ve never known how to get this reach.
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Feed a hungry neighbor, pick up trash at a local park, just do some good!❤️
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@OfficialCLM
@deray
That same BS and I couldn’t live with myself if I let it go. I knew I was on track to lose my job if I questioned them anymore, but, my little ND brain just wasn’t able to stop when I thought about the harm. Simply put I wasn’t what I signed up for.
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It’s also funny to me that at 19 I was old enough to go kill people in the name of our country but 19 y/o’s on college campuses aren’t old enough to understand enough to protest it.
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@OfficialCLM
@deray
As an agency the NPS typically trains its officers better in terms of deescalation in my opinion. We work alone, we have a positive public image, our bosses are not LE usually, and frequently we encounter armed individuals who are permitted and expected to be armed.
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So those are my real kids in this feed and, like, I never meant to “go viral” but I’ve not taking anything down, because it’s true and truth needs to be said.
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@generic4532
I enforced resource crimes, traffic, archeological crimes, drugs, sex crimes, theft. Park Rangers also are responsible for safety in the park and most are fire and rescue trained, so they are EMTs and woodland firefightsers too. It is common to think of Rangers as
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While most of VA politics is watching a shit show we all knew brewing, don’t ignore this. THEY. ARE. BANNING. BOOKS. Like, why are people ignoring this. Half the books on this list are ones that were formative for me, and that’s the problem, right? They don’t want to form “me’s”
Virginia’s Madison County School Board approved banning 21 books from its high school library.
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@generic4532
Working in the wilderness, “Crick Dicks” and “Twig Pigs” but many of us do a lot of standard police work. Many parks are in Urban environments, and even when working in the grand western parks we think of, it’s important to remember people on vacation don’t leave their problems
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@OfficialCLM
@deray
Considered problematic. It was at FLETC after 5 years doing the work that I found it impossible to “just deal with it then go home and work the way I always had” as my peers and family urged me to do, because I kept telling myself that they were teaching 83 other federal agencies
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@generic4532
At home. We deal with a lot of DV. People also like wide open spaces to commit suicide, so many of us have extensive training in Crisis intervention to help those in mental health crisis.
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@OfficialCLM
@deray
That said, we still have massive issues and we are required to train at federal facilities with folks who have a more traditional mindset around policing. I was able to do my job the way I thought it should be done within my park and within my agency. Training was where I was…
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@AbbySunbright
To look at some of the other things in this thread and why they’re unethical IMO, my “only” job is not to go home at night, my job was in my oath, to uphold the constitutional rights of citizens, to protect and serve. Did I train hard so that I could go home at night? Yes.
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@generic4532
The city cops either couldn’t provide backup due to jurisdictional boundaries, or didn’t know how to find me. We worked with 4 Rangers to cover that space 24/7. Many days no other ranger was on duty. In addition to that, I was responsible for the whole body of law.
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Look, no judgement, I’ve run for office, o get it. Was just tickled to find out his wife’s name is Eve.
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@TmSorbo
My role at NPS was Law Enforcement. Since I didn’t complete the instruction and was in my discharge told I could not attend any other training there, I can no longer work in federal law enforcement. I was given enough time to appeal the FLETC ruling and then fired from the NPS.
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I don’t know who needs to hear this this morning, BUT a 🧵
Sex work is work and not inherently immoral
Morality is subjective
Sexual desire is natural is nothing to feel shame for
Having consensual sex is not a crime, even when you share it with others.
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@OfficialCLM
@deray
FLETC is we’re all federal LE agencies train with the exception of the FBI. Although we are required different courses by our agencies, all firearms and “street survival” courses are taught by the same instructors
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I didn’t say anything Black activists haven’t already said a thousand times. Trust their lived experience and donate to their existing orgs. Bail funds, mutual aid, local BLM chapters, put that resource into YOUR community!
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I don’t understand all these cis women being upset about mixed gender restrooms. Like, have they never used the men’s restroom at a concert or bar, to avoid the line? Because there’s always a line, and I do that shit all the time. I look forward to a world without the line🤷♀️
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When I chose to acknowledge that my child’s gender was incorrectly identified at birth and they should be called by their correct pronouns/name and use the correct restroom, it is not honored by the same people who are screaming “parent’s choice!” Right now.
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Remember when Brock Turner was found guilty of 3 counts of felony SA and served 3 months in jail and people were like “he’s a kid, there’s no need to ruin his life?”
Those same people are now insisting we ruin the lives of young people for pitching a tent.
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No protest has ever changed anything by refusing to disrupt. If you’re arguing that students have a right to protest but not disrupt, you are misunderstanding the 1st amendment and protest at its core.
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I heard someone say “Democrats are taking away your right to know what your children are learning” today.
Today when I got home I did this crazy thing I do everyday and have done everyday for about 24 years now…
I said, “Hey Bud! How was your day? Tell me what you learned?”
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“Why don’t they protest Hamas?”
I get this comment a lot.
Their universities aren’t invested in Hamas. Their country isn’t giving weapons to Hamas. They aren’t protesting the war itself, they are protesting the involvement in it by the structures they have an ability to impact.
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@DbMin7
I worry about it, yes. The reality is that Frank Serpico is on this thread and I’d be blind not to see that possibility. I’ve had threats in the past due to GVP advocacy. It’s always a possibility. At some point “right” is more important though.
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So proud to have received the endorsement of
@JCarrollFoy
! Her perseverance, intelligence, and compassion are a continual inspiration for me in my campaign. Join our team and help us
#flipthe66th
and
#KeepVABlue
at
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So in Spotsy they’re distributing fake ballots
In Henrico they’re sending unsolicited pornography by mail
In Richmond they disenfranchised an unknown number of people for parole violations
And in FFX they have DQ’d a candidate after thousands of votes have been cast.
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Just another reminder, that I have nothing to promote!
While I appreciate the thought:
I don’t need a go fund me, so don’t donate to one in my name-it ain’t me.
Don’t donate to my ActBlue, I’m not running again.
Thank you so much for all your support, but y’all?
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It was an honor to stand with
@GabbyGiffords
,
@EFillerCorn
,
@Debra4Delegate
, and
@MarkHerringVA
in the fight against gun violence. Thank you to all the amazing volunteers who showed up to elect gun sense candidates today! Let's keep it up and
#KeepVABlue
!
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@apotheon
@kakanicat
@IMontoyaInsists
I’ve heard it in both, but there’s a lot of overlap, and I definitely started using it while in the military.
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Ok let’s talk
#GVSurvivorsWeek
! What a fun thing to have a week for! So I normally don’t tell my story this way, as it’s traumatizing to subject myself to the callousness of anonymous online commenters, but as we kicked off this week with a campus shooting, here goes🧵
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When I was a senior in high school, I struggled a great deal with my mental health.
I had 2 classes that going to made my day, Hon. World History and Hon. English.
Both the teachers were white males but knew each and everyone of their students and loved teaching.
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@AnaMardoll
He does request we call him King Lars some days, but with it being Lars and my half being Irish, we’ll say Scandinavian monarch😂
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🚨 ENDORSEMENT ALERT 🚨
I am proud to be endorsed by
@Everytown
! I am running for office as a GV survivor, as a gun owner, and as someone who has spent 15 years in the service of our nation. I am ready to step up to address the root causes of GV and keep our communities safe.
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Just in case this needed clarification being anti-mask is not a protected class, having a disability is. Thought I’d help clear that up for some folks.
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Thousands of folks can’t make that plan. These restrictions kill pregnant persons. Every. Day. They just do, and our nation’s maternal death rate shows that.
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@AbbySunbright
It was not something I felt was ethical in determining what level of force to use. Force decisions should be based on a suspects actions not my size. Furthermore the clear implication when this was said to me was that I could get away with it so I should.
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Maybe we need to be calling for them to divest from urban real estate too
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Thank you all for your support! Especially my volunteers, staff, and voters. Our victory tonight would not be possible without you, I am humbled by your faith in me and will carry it with the deepest gravity. Now we
#FlipThe66th
together!
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I'm proud to have earned
@MomsDemand
's GSC distinction and to have worked with them to tell my
#GunViolenceSurvivor
story to legislators for the last 4 years. I
#WearOrange
for Hadiya, myself, and the hundreds that are impacted by GV every day in America.
#Katie4The66th
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Good morning and happy Election Day!!! Starting off at LC Bird High School, to greet voters from Bird and North Bird Precincts. I’ll be making a stop at every precinct today so I hope to see you! Get out that vote Virginia!
#ProtectServeRepeat
#GOTV
#FlipThe66th
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@AbbySunbright
Does a person who’s approached by a 5’2” 115 lbs officer have fewer rights than one approached by a 6’5” 250lbs one? God I hope not. Knowing my size could create a disadvantage was something I took into account when deciding to do the job and in my training,
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My son wears his because he knows it helps keep his immunocompromised mom alive. I don’t think that’s political, but I’ve run for office maybe? My parents are on the opposite side of the political spectrum from me but I’ve always wanted to keep them alive. Is that political?
.
@ChapPetersen
repeats his claim that, because masks are politicized, forcing kids to wear them at schools is forcing them to adopt a political viewpoint.
"That's a First Amendment violation... There used to be something called the ACLU in this state."
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@River12612
I’m glad to hear that. This is simply my experience, and in thread many have said theirs was similar, so it seems to exist. Many good officers allow the words to slide over them and do not internalize them, but others do. It’s only what I’ve seen, never claimed it was universal.
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I’m so glad that so many folks are now concerned about keeping firearms out of the wrong hands!
98% of mass shooters are white males and over 90% have a history of violence against women, harassment, stalking, and/or IPV. Let’s start with closing the boyfriend loophole!
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Virginia, it’s past time to retire this man, and to defend his ex-wife from him.
Virginia State Senator Joe Morrissey (D - Richmond) has been banned from the Henrico jail facilities for 90 days after an incident involving his children, according to Henrico Sheriff Alisa Gregory.
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🚨 Endorsement Alert!
"I'm proud to support Katie Sponsler's campaign in HD-66. Katie is an advocate for gun violence prevention, equity in our education system, and much more. She has served our nation with integrity as an airman in the US Air Force and a US Park Ranger."
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My hope in tweeting this yesterday was to reach a parent who perhaps like his, never thought to remove their firearms and whose grief is now compounded with guilt. The horror is unimaginable to me and I hope to never see it again.
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@CSaltyMe
So this is a complex answer. Diversity hiring can help, BUT and this is a big but…we have to make a system that supports them first. Like all minority officers, female officers are more likely told they have something to prove. When you’re told you don’t belong
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Let’s have another quick thread about something I think needs to be addressed. Ok, it’ll probably be not that quick. So let’s talk about Trackers. 🧵
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Next a clarification and gratitude, to all who extended sympathy and condolences. I did not know the child well, but one of his parents is very dear to me. My grief is only in watching his parents grieve and his classmates who are too young to grasp the horror in front of them
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We believe in living our values so we’ll have a Union staff and won’t accept any donations that don’t reflect our values, so we’ll need your help in funding.
#Katie4The66th
#ProtectServeRepeat
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I have to admit that I find amusement in the fact that the movement to whitewash history is largely rooted in the Christian right, and their main argument is that they don’t want their kids feeling guilty about something their ancestors did.
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@TunedIn58
To be clear, it was several instructors that acted together. He had the ultimate say, but he was just the “final boss.” In the 4 months I was there I heard this same sentiment from multiple instructors. Not from my classmates, not once. Other instructors told me how good I was at
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And start asking why any ban is ever ok. Start asking what your expertise is on my healthcare, on anyone’s healthcare. Start wondering why any mother should be calling multiple doctors to see if their religious beliefs allow them to refer a patient for a needed medical procedure
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So we can all agree…
Starting a run for Congress in a district that includes his district by calling
@JoshuaCole
an asshat is the best possible foot to get off on right?
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My bones still ache from Tuesday, but a record turnout? With 7 days to plan? And an absolute, responding victory for my future Congresswoman
@JennMcClellanVA
? Worth every door and minute in the cold! Thank you and congratulations Jenn! Can’t wait to see you in DC!
✅🇺🇸 Sen. Jennifer L. McClellan has WON the VA-04 Democratic Firehouse Primary
McClellan – 23,661 (84.81%)
Morrissey – 3,782 (13.56%)
Marks – 217 (0.78%)
Preston – 174 (0.62%)
Congratulations to Virginia’s next Congresswoman,
@JennMcClellanVA
!
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🚨Endorsement Alert🚨
A huge thank you to Virginia’s 1st CD 2020 Democratic Nominee,
@QasimRashid
Qasim’s tireless work as a human rights attorney, an author, and an advocate has made our Commonwealth a better place, and I am honored to have his endorsement.
#Katie4The66th
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This woman keeps saying I have “woke white woman privilege” and I’m confused…white privilege? Yep that’s for sure. Woke privilege? Is that a thing? Can someone who’s not “woke” tell me what I’m gaining with social consciousness? I’m here to learn…
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Meanwhile, I was raised Catholic and told constantly that I was less than because some bitch ate an apple 5 million years ago while I was growing up🤷♀️😂
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My friend Kellen is doing it right. And I mean it when I say “my friend.” Since 2017 when we first met we’ve sipped some whiskey, knocked doors all over the Commonwealth, raised some money, protested some BS, climbed some mountains, and talked A LOT, I know this man.
#Grassroots
Folks, it's been a long night in the ER, but there was news that came out yesterday that, given how big it was, I'd be remiss if I didn't address it promptly.
It turns out that our campaign had the most small-dollar funding of ANY CAMPAIGN IN THE COMMONWEALTH.
WOW!
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And finally, my sincerest sympathies to those who shared in this thread their own stories of survival. Your courage is inspiring and important, and as someone who has lost a devoted friend and wingman to firearm suicide I thank you.
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