Graffiti, Hate Crime, and the Digital Vigilantes: Youths Target Homes Near Middle School— Online Mob Reacts to what? We have no idea

It’s one of those awful days in Fort Bragg.

First reports point to young people involved in an incident, though officials haven’t confirmed what happened. Police are asking for videos of suspicious activity near Fort Bragg Middle School near Fort Bragg Middle School.

Suspicious in what way? Without details, it’s impossible to know how to help

Many on social media say it’s graffiti. Authorities haven’t issued an official word. There are numberous stories of flags being scribbled on and dropped off, or bad stuff written on flags or bad stuff written on houses.

It’s a weird mystery. The press release offers no details beyond a request for help in finding perpetrators of a “hate crime.” In the vacuum, rumors have raged across social media like fire in a sewer plant.

People began posting photos of those they believed might be responsible!!!! Horrible!!

Please stop doing this!! Its almost as bad as the crime, whatever that is. . If you have a video, send it to the police, don’t play vigilante or self righteous preacher on social media.

In the attached press release, Fort Bragg Police Commander Jonathan McLaughlin cautioned that social media posts were wrongly naming young people who may be entirely innocent. He stressed that police had not identified any suspects. While the department welcomes public assistance, the release makes clear that the “hang ’em high” tirades must stop—especially when the crime itself remains unidentified. Hang them for rumors?. We understand why police are wary of inciting a mob, given the damage such frenzies have caused in the past right here on the Mendocino Coast. Yet withholding so much information risks going too far. It only fuels speculation and makes the voyeurs stare harder.kes the voyeurs stare harder.

No one needs to fuel flaming hate against alleged haters, whatever it is they may have done. If you have information, report it through the portal cited in the press release.states.

If this is graffiti without physical violence, any media outlet that publishes photos of alleged suspects should be ashamed. The only exception is if police request help and provide a photo for that purpose. There is no need to hand out life sentences on social media. The only legitimate reason to print photos is if the individuals pose a threat or are being sought by authorities.

Interested in justice? Go watch it unfold at the courthouse. You will find injustice there—every court since Hammurabi has had its share—but you’ll also see far more real justice. Be a courthouse observer. We could use one at MendocinoCoast.news.

Hammurabi was a Babylonian king who lived 4,000 years ago and created one of the first legal systems. Most notably, he established the principle that people are innocent until proven guilty in court. Unfortunately, social media has dragged civilization back 5,000 years—to a time when you might gouge out the eye of someone you merely thought was looking at you funny.

Disgusting, isn’t it? Bigotry is treated as acceptable in America again. Hate and lies and putting down people who are different is now called “winning” But when some young people follow the example their elders present, those some elders charge onto social media demanding severe punishments for those who emulate the bad expamples in America that start at the top.

It’s equally awful that the decline of newspapers has meant the decline of libel laws and professional ethics in news. Facebook helped destroy thousands of papers by excusing itself from responsibility for what’s said on its platform. Frank edited three newspapers, and back then publishing vigilante accusations would have brought a lawyer to the office by morning—and rightly so. Today, Mark Zuckerberg wields money and power as if above the law, dining beside presidents while shifting his loyalties with the political winds. He may call himself “liberal” again if Democrats win, but respect is undeserved. Aligning with power doesn’t make Facebook good, right, or decent; in fact, it proves the opposite.

The youths who did this should be ashamed—and face charges.

Those who splashed photos and videos across social media to blame someone before any arrest should be ashamed. And so should those shouting for “justice” when no one even knows what the supposed crime is.

Maybe they’ll learn, but “Zuckie” never will.

He’s earned nothing but nicknames, and none of them spell respect. In the end, justice belongs in the courthouse, not in the mob, and shame belongs to those who trade rumor for truth.