photo by Boyd Loving
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Ridgewood NJ, anti protester and free speech advocate William Porterfield who exercised his own right to free speech during Saturdays ,“Ridgewood for Black Liberation” is now being harassed buy some the the very protesters who claim the mantle of free speech.
According to a Facebook post in the Facebook group It Takes a Ridgewood Village , Porterfield claims,”Kathleen Sun Koo, Beth Pollak Meleski and Ariya Wink have searched out my employer and now threaten to ask that I be fired because I dared to say, “All Lives Matter”. This is how groups like BLM work. Like nazis, communists and organized crime – They try to intimidate or destroy dissenters. They protest down our street with bullhorns, making demands of what Ridgewood must do. but they try to take away anyone else’s voice. I ask that more Ridgewood residents be present at their next protest to show that Ridgewood residents, and Americans don’t cower.”
Sounds like the “filter” or “silence thy neighbor crowd” is back in action and this is a long time trick of the New Jersey political establishment whenever it tries to silence competition or dissent.
The First Amendment reads : Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.
Liberals hate free speech! Cancel culture .
I am a liberal and while I may disagree with Bill Porterfield and wish he had worn a mask/socially distanced, I will stand up for his right to free speech. If cannot compromise his right without compromising everyone’s right to free speech. We cannot pick and choose based on what we find offensive or acceptable. And no one should be threatening this man’s livelihood. If his company wants to fire him, so be it but it’s between him and his employer.
Mask it the next time Mr. Porterfield.
Nothing like a fool quoting the Constitution while not understanding it! “Congress shall make no law” means the government cannot limit speech. A private citizen is free to hold another citizen accountable for speech.
better tread lightly on that one and he enjoys the same protections as the protesters
Good for Bill Porterfield he has a right to voice his opinion also – Free Speech
What a sad state of the world we live in. A bunch of unemployed 22 year olds, who apparently have the luxury of not needing to work to support themselves, have decided to set such a low bar for what justifies threatening an individual’s ability to provide for his family.
As far as I can tell, Ariya Wink has decided that Bill Porterfield shouldn’t have a job because he said all lives matter at a black lives matter event. Of course, this is a completely disingenuous rhetorical trick she is using – ms wink has decided that the phrase “all lives matter” must be read with a certain subtext and implicit meaning while black lives matter only has its literal meaning.
As literal statements, both black lives matter and all lives matter are inherently true. If we want to look at subtext, and see all lives matter as a refutation of black lives matter, than we must also look at the sub text of the statement black lives matter as used by protestors. The protestors are tied to an organization has a stated and observed agenda that is different from simply acknowledging the obviously true belief that black lives matter and black individuals are unfortunately confronted by racism. BLM, the organization, has a stated goal of dismantling western values, family structure and the u.s. economic system. If all lives matter is being used as a statement to refute that agenda , it’s very disingenuous and cruel to accuse mr porterfield of racism and threaten his job for opposing it. The trick is obvious – “why can’t you say black lives matter???”, while we give that statement a different meaning.
Unless of course, ms wink has a personal agenda and is just using the BLM movement as a witch hunt to attack people she doesn’t like. Maybe she should get a real job.
I see a few more arrests coming when Bill deals with these low life losers.
Liberals are scum
Don’t be shy James C. Donoghue, post your entire name to the article. You clearly have no idea what the 1st amendment means, so let me clarify: while you are able to openly say whatever you want that doesn’t mean you are exempt from the backlash, criticisms, punishments, etc. that follow when you spew hate. And if you agree with that obviously insane post that Bill Porterfield published on Facebook, you might as well admit you’re racist as well! Oh wait, you did and I already called you out for it.
Ariya better be careful whats good for the goose ,is good for the gander you are not exempt either
Bill’s views on marriage and womens’ rights when it comes to separation are quite interesting….
https://nypost.com/2008/02/03/18-to-wife/
It is unbelievably sad that people in the group are actively trying to discredit what these kids are trying to spread awareness for. While I do not directly support everything BLM stands for, I entirely support their right to conduct marches and protests. The fact that people are trying to discredit this group simply because of who they are and what they’re trying to achieve is sad. If you really think ridgewood should be immune to the message we’ve seen across the country, wake up and go get a better world view. People of all races have rights and just because the vast majority of ridgewood is well off white people doesn’t mean we have to be homogenous and quite frankly racist. Let these kids share their message. As a 20 year old college student I can assure you that we will be better off as a community if we listen rather than exclude.
these kids and their promoters are not aware in the slightest , its defiantly a time for an exchange program with Paterson
Just because someone’s well off, white and lives in Ridgewood, doesn’t make them racist.
This turd Ariya is posting threatening messages on It Takes A Ridgewood Village as we speak.
She’s already threatened one person with their job.
The blog Administrator’s need to put a stop to her.
you cant be aware if you never read a book or worked a day in your life
It takes a ridgewood village and rmd with free speech must be going off the charts now.
These kids need to get a real job
Araya Wink Scala you are a punk and a bully. I guess it’s not enough for you to spend the last thirty hours relentlessly attacking and bullying a fellow resident for simply exercising his first ammendment rights, your insatiable appetite for blood is fueled by your hatred for others and yourself.
Ms. Scala hiding your name while chastising others for not using theirs highlights your hypocrisy.
Your arrogance is exposed as you attempt to hold yourself superior to everyone else. Correcting grammar, bullying and mocking adults. Did you actually receive a degree in communication arts from Marymount college? Are you a Kilwins “food production” worker?
Kilwins states they follow three core values: 1) Treat others the way you wish to be treated, 2) Do your best, 3) Have fun.
Ariya Scala please read #1 again, and again, and again, and again.
YOU are a nothing more than a miserable BULLY!
Liberals, troublemakers bigmouth‘s. No guts no balls. Our way of thinking is just not working sorry. Take it somewhere else. Take all this marching down to Paterson Newark Jersey City see if they appreciate it. All lives matter if you don’t like it too damn bad. If these liberals are marching for Black Lives Matter OK that’s all well and good. Then it must be fair across-the-board even Steven. Because the minorities Latin And African-Americans are entitled to a lot of things that the white people do not get. You could be born in Ridgewood into a black family and still be entitled to other things that white kids down in Ridgewood. Look it up learn it before you shoot your mouth off. Learn the laws liberals.
Bill needs to tell the “truth” and stop playing the victim because he got called out! There are witnesses that heard his comments!
Homegrown agitators thriving on Facebook likes at all costs starting with
Cathy Brienza and Ridgewood JOLT. She’s a hater masquerading as a social justice warrior.
It is my first ammendment right, as it is with those other protesters, to call this guy a jerk.
Quit crying about the evil liberals and worry about your own side. What a mess.
Black Lives Matter is a Marxist organization that seeks to overthrow the government of the United States.
No worries. She’s being reported to her employer too. She’s typical for those 2 Facebook sites
Ridgewood Moms and Dads with Free Speech and It Takes A Ridgewood Village should be ashamed for allowing the shit show to happen in the first place. All those new members, many not from Ridgewood, joined to sow the seeds of hate. Hope Adita and Jackie got enough 👍! Sleep well.
I know in the past the village mayor and council don’t like free speech. Because they can’t control you. In the past they controlled the original news, A.k.a. Ridgewood news, and rag newspapers that followed.the woman’s club, the realtor group, the Board of Education,. Those days are over.
It’s not a free speech issue, but slander. A chat room fight is allowed. Slandering a person in real life is not. I recommend suing the perps. If you don’t do it, they will keep harassing and slandering people.
I’ll never go back to Kilwins knowing they employ these types of fascists. Lost a long time customer. Hopefully more do the same.
Cancel Kilwins and the hate they support.
The south will rise again…. and lose again…ignoramus
It takes a really horrible and mean spirited person to go after another human being and try to destroy his ability to provide for his family by pressuring his employer. I lived under communism in eastern Europe and this is exactly what the best militants did to those who didn’t agree with the regime. Nazism, fascism, communism, socialism are the same fking thing when it comes to dealing with opposition. America beware of this type of people. Once they’re in power it will be darkness for a very long time. These creatures thrive by hating everything and making life miserable for others. They have no alliance with anyone else except their perverted ideology.
Don’t boycott Kilwins. Just let them know their employee is affecting their business
Liberals, very cleverly, adopted a methodology several years ago. It’s the concept of settled science. The concept goes like this. The leftist agenda points are settled science. There’s no further need for debate. We are correct and to disagree means you are stupid, evil, a fascist, corrupt, etc. This shutting down of debate, gives them a sense of being on the side of cleverness. What’s there to debate? We see it every night on the MSM. The party of science. The masses are inclined to join the left for fear of being thought of as evil or stupid, or God forbid, being ostracized from neighbors or friends.
Cancel culture may seem evil in its methodology, but for the people who make it happen, they are able to justify ruining someone’s livelihood or reputation because the person is clearly evil and deserves the consequences. We are in a very dangerous point in the development of this great nation. What used to be a fringe element of misfits and loons has become a very big portion of society. The Democratic party of your father is no longer. Through indoctrination by colleges, the MSM, social media, the entertainment industry, etc., the Dems are currently looking to get a man elected President who at any previous time, would have been laughed off the stage. The man is clearly not well and the people with the ability to pull his strings are frightening.
What is ironic is the Left keep pushing this Russian interference hoax on Trump, where in reality, I am sure that the real Russian interference is all about the creation of chaos, and what better way to create chaos than what we are seeing in our urban centers and MSM.
No more Kilwins for me either. Kids won’t be happy – but I can’t support a business that employs hateful Marxists. Bye bye.
Cancel Kilwins.
If you liberals keep canceling places that employee people that you don’t like you will eating yourselfs.
Liberals very cleverly? What an idiot. I’m happy these young adults are making people like you squirm. They’re the future.Flail away.
Anon “Cancel Kilwins.” is not going to work just like it didn’t work for Goya. I for one will tell my family and everyone I know to shop there. I hope other poster will do the same. # Screw the Cancel Culture
Hey Folks this thread is exactly what this protest was intending to do. Make people uncomfortable. Make people face the reality that the world we’re living in isn’t so perfect. I really hope some of the people who see this as an opportunity to just share their ignorant views go back and read what you’re writing. If you think the world will just go on as if nothing happened, think again. It’s time for change and it’s going to happen everywhere. As uncomfortable as that is
Boycott Kilwins….
Send email to corporate and force them to fire her.
Trash her LinkedIn profile…let everyone know EXACTLY who this bitch is.
Lots of others can play the same game you little twat.
Now it’s time for payback.
So their new trick is to complain to your employer and try to get you fired. It’s happening everywhere. Heres the fix. Get an attorney to sue them. Then find out where they work and sue them for allowing the use of their internet to slander you. Lastly, they are most likely using a phone provided by their parents so, sue them too. Use big numbers. Millions for loss of wages and reputation. Lien the parents house immediately. Get the lien reported to their credit and ruin their credit. Blog their employers. Yelp is great for that. Time to stop their nonsense.
Concerned young person, it’s great that people cocooned in their white privilege are now rattled. Long overdue for the “quaint village”. Well done and I’m looking forward to more of the same.
Wow, what a great and supportive community you all are contributing to. You should be so proud of yourselves. Please remember we are all neighbors. I highly doubt you would talk to anyone face to face as you are on this anonymous forum.
“Wow, what a great and supportive community you all are contributing to. You should be so proud of yourselves. Please remember we are all neighbors. I highly doubt you would talk to anyone face to face as you are on this anonymous forum”.
– said Anonymous…the irony.
The dude that DID say it out loud is being drug by the mob dipshit. Now you see why its anonymous? Any views outside of the Marxist BLM platform and bullshit protests by virtue signaling dolts make one a target. People are sick of it. Go read White Fragility again, the new Mao Little Red Book.
Lol…
Do not blame the platform for the stupidity of anyone or even the vileness of everyone, it’s you, it’s Ridgewood which these groups represent.
New members are joining, if you believe they are joining from just one side, what are you doing to educate or mobilize people?
Yes, calling out the employer was wrong and it was mentioned on the group, fight on your merits. You have an equal platform.
No one of us cares about the thumps up or thumps down, we do care about the community that we live in.
I care about all lives matter. Not one particular group. I have family and friends that are all different religions, racist, colors, I teach my kids to love everyone equally and of story. Just treat everyone fairly the same.
BLM scared white America in 2014.
So much so that we voted for Trump in 2016.
Law of unintended consequences.
History will repeat itself.
I have never purchased anything from Kilwins chocolates at 121 E Ridgewood Ave, But I certainly will now. Black Lives Matters is a hate group and is tied to ANTIFA.
This ignorant bunch of adolescents think it’s “cool” to protest and chant Black Lives Matter, they could learn a lot about their foolishness from this man.
https://youtube.com/watch?v=goQk2awSc3s
BLM is not about black lives. Its about tearing down every part of America and creating a Marxists society in its ashes. These kids protesting are fresh out of their indoctrination camps (colleges and universities), that’s why they have no idea what they are talking about.
While I have 15 minutes of infamy, I have two important points to make and then a couple of others. The first – A camera on every police officer in the county while on duty. This transparency protects both the public and the police. Second – School choice. If people really want to help poor kids destined for crime, give them and their parents a choice beyond the public school union-run monopoly. Competition improves things for the consumer. If it’s really about the kids, then give them a choice.
Yes, freedom of speech does not mean freedom from consequences but the shout outs for me losing my job, posting my employer and also emailing groups I am associated with (all of which has happened) is malicious. It is a naked attempt to intimidate me. I’ve now heard others say that the people who did this to me should lose their jobs. I disagree. We deserve private lives even when we feel the need to speak out publically.
And I do speak out publically about BLM, Ridgewood 4 Black Liberation or any other group that tries to tell us how we must speak. That we should lose our jobs because we say all lives matter. Regarding these groups’ concern for correct wording, one of their chants on Saturday was, “Hands up, Don’t shoot.” It was verified that that was never said at Fergeson (You can read that verification in the link below from the Wash. Post) but this group chants it anyway because they believe they decide what’s true or false. They offer no solutions. Only anarchy.
Regarding my counter protest, I was respectful and the protesters were respectful to me. One even offered me a bottle of water. I didn’t take it but I appreciated it. I didn’t wear a mask because I stayed 6 feet away of everyone and I am almost 60 years old and was trying to be heard over a bullhorn. I understand and respect the efficacy of face masks right now.
My family has asked me to bow out of this particular fight, so I don’t plan on saying anything else unless something incorrect is said about me. I urge everyone to get involved and call/write your representatives and tell them to restore law and order. Lastly, please wear a little red, white and blue when you’re on our main street. This is our village. No one dies here. Every life matters here.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/fact-checker/wp/2015/03/19/hands-up-dont-shoot-did-not-happen-in-ferguson/
The Freedom of Speech is just that – everyone is free to voice their own opinions. It does not grant you a shield against questions, disagreement, dissent, protests, or ramifications of you voicing your opinion.
Attending a BLM protest to counter-protest and shout “All Lives Matter” is an act of instigation. If you can’t handle the repercussions of your actions, then perhaps you shouldn’t have been out there in the first place.
Should someone have attempted to have you fired for your opinion? Perhaps not. But, your employer has the choice of whether they want you to continue to represent them based on your voiced opinions.
Freedom of Speech is not Freedom of Responsibility.
yes and the same goes for the “protesters”
William Porterfield, I support you and everything in your comment is spot on. Hands up don’t shoot is a lie, Michael Brown never said or raised his hands. BLM is a radical group like its close cousin ANTIFA, which has appropriately been labeled a Terrorist group. These white, young, uneducated, privileged, sheltered adolescents have been brainwashed and lied to about America and its history. Someday hopefully they will understand the stupidity they displayed during this march and will look back with embarrassment.