A Fairbanks News-Miner opinion columnist is facing scrutiny and potential legal consequences after publishing a vitriolic social media post calling for the death of a conservative activist in Interior Alaska.
In her column in the Fairbanks Daily News-Miner targeting Borough Assembly member Barbara Haney, Rebekah McNabb, a featured opinion writer at the News-Miner, penned a column accusing Barbara Haney of being a promoter of fascism and associating her with extremist ideologies. She called for a protest at a Fairbanks Chamber of Commerce event on Tuesday, which prompted extra security to be stationed at the door of the Westmark Conference Center. In addition to the governor’s own usual security team, there were State Troopers posted at the door.
The column, which lacks substantive evidence and singles out the local elected official and sitting governor for personal vilification and claims of “fascism,” has raised questions about the judgment of the newspaper that serves Interior Alaska.
The controversy escalated sharply after it was revealed that McNabb, posting under the name “Rivka Dean” on social media, wrote a disturbing message a week ago referencing another conservative activist in Fairbanks, saying, “she’s gonna get herself shot one of these days lol I’ll have a cake when it happens.”
The post is an incitement and endorsement of violence. The woman’s social media account has since been suspended by Facebook due to going against “community standards.”
McNabb’s column had framed the planned protest as resistance to what she described as a “creeping fascism” in local politics, a claim not only inflammatory but possibly dangerous in light of her subsequent online threat. About 25-30 people showed up at her protest on Tuesday.
While opinion writing is protected by the First Amendment, statements that defame a public official and those that threaten violence may not be.
If the victim of the social media post were to pursue legal action, McNabb could be exposed to civil liability for calling for the death of someone, with the insinuation of a reward.
Activist Kelly Nash, the subject of the violent social media post, has called for a criminal investigation.
It would be interesting to know if this reporter could explain, intelligently, what fascism is.
“intelligently” could very difficult.
My thought as well. Perhaps she needs both a civics and history lesson.
She also needs to learn what “Journalism” actually is.
Has anyone seen the 1927 film Metropolis?
Maybe take a look at it…
ANTIFA666ots gotta ANTIFA666ot, dawg!
Are you looking to get pegged? Just download grinder you thirsty old man.
Every once in a while somebody says something so unexpected that it’s laugh out loud funny. Thanks!
Now that Rivka McNabb has passed the F*ck Around phase, exactly when will she be blindsided by the Find Out phase?
No one cares about Barb, she’s not even liked in her party, she sounds like if an old coal boiler could talk. She’s got no self control and it shows, no one is showing up for her, not even her husband cares.
“No one cares about Barb” RH a patently false statement, as all the nasty innuendo and bombastic accusations clearly demonstrate the opposite.
.
“She’s got no self control” I agree Ms McNabb/Rivka has no self control writing emotionally based articles low on facts.
“…not even her husband cares” Are you twelve? Can’t you and Ms Rivka/McNabb formulate an argument that doesn’t sound like high school teen drama?
Seems pretty consistent with comments made on MRAK. That language is pretty benign compared to many of the comments on here.
Should I call shines wah– wah for the waa waaaahmbulance for you?
Perhaps you could change your screen name to Painful Delusion?
PT, do you find the truth to be painful?
For myself, I make no bones about despising and hating those who hate me, and who hate freedom, as the insane and evil contemporary radical leftist crowd does.
It seems to me that she hasn’t called for violent action, but will celebrate if it happens. Unlike Mike Johnson’s comment stating “Gavin Newsom should be tarred and feathered”, it seems more in line with calling for action to be taken. Though here at MRAK it will be ignored as it came from a MAGA speaker.
Newsom taxed California residents into poverty. He let half the state burn down. Blamed everyone else and lied.
“Alaskans for freedom!” now there’s a misnomer if I’ve seen one. The likes of YOU are the first ones to cry “Fascist”, and you can even define it. Oddly enough, the makes you the Fascist. You’re the ones who want to take away the freedom of others and replace it with an authoritarian state where people believe boys can become girls and girls can become boys. No thanks, we’ll pass.
Mike Johnson is 100% correct.
And, Mike Johnson should get blasted by everyone in his party as well as the leftist party for saying it. And, he likely will get his wrist slapped.
.
Unlike leftists who think they can say whatever they want, whenever they want, about anyone they want with impunity. And, they typically get it as well.
Was environmental wacko activist and trouble-maker Savannah Fletcher hiding behind her mask at the Westmark Hotel?
The Newsminer editorial department is run by a bunch of child-like amateurs. Might just as well solicit and advertise for defamatory Community Perspectives. Dumbest bunch of newspaper people I’ve ever known.
The word is “journalist” and maybe you should have gotten that high school diploma after all, your vocabulary is pathetic.
It’s a sad state of affairs when this blog is fawning attention on a self proclaimed disabled lesbian jew whore. There must be better news somewhere, no?
I’m going to recount a few gotcha’s;
1st the new owner of news minus attended two different conservative functions approximately a year apart during which promised to put an end to Leftist Biases in the paper!
Barbara made a post on the news minus in the opinion column where she referred to th “puppy palace” And a question about safety in the schools referring to another Assembly members assertations, the paper elected to add that Barbara was an elected member of the assembly, this prompted an ethics complaint against Barbara wherein she was fined and censored.
All of these happenings to date locally are dominoes aimed at Barbara and fellow conservatives.
My question is when will the News Miner’s “NEW OWNER” live upto her promises or are we to address this in a legal action against ” The Fairbanks Daily News Miner “
Great question, Don. Currently, the Newsminer looks like its being run by a bunch of junior high kids.
Isn’t it odd that these fools that are showing up to protest all wear masks? Why? Not proud of what you are doing? Afraid of being ostracized by the community? Hell, the idiots in Los Angeles actually handed out masks so the oh so proud protestors could remain hidden. This should become a new law, NO MASKS at protest rallies. That way when the mostly peaceful rioters lighting cars on fires, throwing bricks and projectiles – in a mostly peaceful way, and of course the mostly peaceful looting. What do you think the odds are of the Marxist alphabet clown show coming on the 14th is fully loaded with the proud mask wearers…
They wear masks because they are cowards.
See Supreme Court: New York Times vs Sullivan 1964. It clearly defines statements that can be made about public officials. Direct death threats are not acceptable
I’d love to own the Newsminer . Columns would be about mining , oil and gas and history of Fbks with some great hunting and fishing story’s . It’s owned by a bunch of lefties out of SanFransisco who hate all that . Paper Has no relevance to life 75 miles from arctic Circle and the challenges of living up here ..
I find it hard to believe anyone actually reads the News minor anymore. Used to read it every day buy now…I sure wouldn’t pay to read that rag!
The Newsminer, if it had any respectability to its general readership, would offer a full apology to Ms. Haney and Governor Dunleavy for allowing a defamatory and inflammatory opinion piece into its editorial page. That editorial snafu makes the Newsminer look very unprofessional, and frankly, like a left-wing rag. Not a good look for Fairbanks.
The FDNM has been going downhill ever since I left. That’s why I’m doing my own blog now. But business in the far left, radical world of blogging ain’t been that lucrative. That’s why I always ask for more donations. If you want me to keep attacking the Republicans, I need more juice. My personal stash is always running low. Send money…….pleeeze. I’m desperate!
Given the quality of the content of your blog, I am surprised the downhill spiral of the FDNM continued after you left. I really thought you were the anchor dragging it down. Turns out I was wrong.
Leftists can never defend their positions through honest debate. They always devolve into shouting/screaming Nazi! Hitler! Fascist! at anyone they don’t agree with, and then desperately resort to violence. While I understand social media companies have a legitimate fear of liability, I am not a big fan of censoring social media posts. People are on record saying what they said.
I was never the news anchor for the DNM. Just an old, ugly Democrat foisting my journalistic skills on the public, hoping to become famous as the biggest dirty grouch in Fairbanks. I guess I sorta obtained my goal even though my liver took a beating. I threw away my poison pen and now all I have is gout in my knuckles, brain fog, and a continuously empty spirits cabinet. I guess this is what happens to Democrats facing the End.