It’s rare in politics to see real courage. Real courage shines through in the face of real consequences or injury. Jon Fetherston has demonstrated real courage this past week and he should be commended for it.
Jon Fetherston is a reporter for the Maine Wire, but before that he had a long track record of public service in his previous professional life. His biography is not just as a man of the people, but as a man for the people. He brings that ethos to work for the Maine Wire every day. Jon Fetherston is a decent man shining a light on stories that matter.
This week on the heels of the shooting in Biddeford involving ICE, Fetherston was first on the scene reporting. He spent the next 48 hours live reporting and conducting interviews on the street with protestors. He was the Man in the Arena.
What followed can only be described as some of the best documentation of the mind virus that plagues half the country right now. Fetherston asking simple questions and pushing back on the replies, as any real journalist would, was met with open hostility, violence, death threats and the doxing of his home address. The madness of the crowd was unacceptable, yet totally expected.
The two most egregious incidents were extremely violent and should hopefully result in the York and Cumberland County District Attorneys putting the perpetrators in prison. People need to demand that.
The first incident was well documented and occurred on the streets of Biddeford when a protester hit Jon Fetherston in the head with a skateboard knocking his phone to the ground. This attack with an improvised deadly weapon could have resulted in grievous bodily injury. A skateboard to the temple could have killed Jon Fetherston. The charges and prosecution should reflect that.
The second incident happened the next day in Scarborough with the slashing of the tires on Jon Fetherston’s vehicle. This was an escalation of force after the profanity laced temper tantrums of the day before. This took a sharp and sturdy blade and intent. The next inevitable escalation of this violence puts Fetherston’s safety in danger. It is unacceptable and should be condemned by everyone in Maine.
Instead, Jon’s colleagues in the Maine legacy media blame him, the victim. It’s a similar pattern to those defending Platner after his exit from the US Senate race. Don’t ask questions that challenge the narrative or you deserve violence; this is not how this country is supposed to function.
Yet, still Jon Fetherston persists. A decent man with courage in the face of danger. I applaud that and you should too. It is rare to see ‘The Man in the Arena’ also be a ‘Man for All Seasons’.
Maine is lucky to have Jon Fetherston and blessed to have his indispensable reporting. If we are going to get our state back it’s going to be because of men and women like Jon Fetherston. People who are willing to go into the belly of the beast and reveal its true nature for everyone to see.
The same people screaming, threatening and assaulting Jon Fetherston are not that different from the people that currently run your state government. Just look at the prominent faces using this tragedy as a campaign soapbox to win an election in November or a coronation next weekend.
It’s time for decent and courageous Mainers to take back their state. I’m thankful that we have Jon Fetherston to set an example for the rest of us.
If you see Jon out there, tell him thank you and that what he is doing matters.
John Andrews is a candidate for State Senate, District 18.
When the “ not crazy “ people start to take on the “ crazy “ people and things begin to get physical , we shall see which faction caves first . I’m betting that Karen and Teddy and the “ Over 65 “ Crazy Crew will decide to stay home from the bridge , and do “ their” protesting exclusively on line . The “ younger” ones , the ones who have never been spanked, will have to learn the hard way . There is a day of reckoning coming .
Once law and order breaks down the whole thing will fall apart . We CANT let THAT happen .
Yeats put it best: “ the middle shall cease to hold.”
Keep up the great work Jon. You are so appreciated. And be safe!!
John thank you for the important information that you bring to the readers of Maine each and every day. With out the reporting that you do we I as a Maine Wire follower would not know all the dark things lurking in the streets of Maine (Needles).
Nor would we know of all the backroom deals going on behind the scenes at the statehouse either.
I want to say keep up the good work but more importantly I would much rather you be safe than sorry.
There are some real crazy nut cases out there they should have never closed AmHi. Back in the day they paid you $50.00 per drop off. What I have seen lately they should reopen all the mental hospitals they would be full in less than a week.
Awesome reporting John please be safe, beware of your surroundings as you do make sure your camera sees what you see at all times.
What is not being said by comrade Mills is Biddeford, like so many other Maine communities were founded/ settled by LEGAL immigrants! She and her merry little band are true dumbasses!
Please keep John, his family, the staff and reporters for the Mainewire in your prayers. May God protect them, because the police won’t or can’t.
This message is for the the “Self Serving Left Wing
Democrats!”
The left wing “Communist Mainers” want the this upheaval! They want a Civil War within Maine and the Country! What they do not realize is the Conservative older level headed people in this country are much tougher than they think. I am only one man, but I have a lot of friends and family. We will not let you Communist Left Wing Nut Jobs ruin our country. I as well as millions of others will stand our ground and fight for our country! You cannot and will not win for one reason, we have been spanked and we know what it is to suffer! I sincerely hope it does not come to a Civil War, but this BS needs to stop. Janet Mills administration and one party rule for nearly 8 years has these left wing lawlessness give these people a feeling that they can do whatever they want! There will be consequences for your actions and you are not going to like it!
Be careful for what you wish for, you may not like the results! You all are about to get your first spanking!
DeFlock!
Stop the police state!
Police, FBI, ICE and CBP are not your friends!
DeFlock!
Remove your bumper stickers!
Invest in window tint!
Block the ALPR cameras!
DeFlock!
Did ICE not tell the BPD they were watching someone?
Are the two law groups not working together?
Are the BPD limited to just traffic control?
Troy Jackson gave a talk in Biddeford stated “that ICE needs to be disbanded and that ALL of their supporters need to be eliminated” In his choice of the word eliminated it it taken to mean dead? I know in the military that’s it’s meaning. How many of the protesters will chose to act?
Why is the Maine Wire not reporting on how troubled and possibly mentally ill the ICE agent who killed the young man in Biddeford is?