Two days before the Joplin City Council is scheduled to discuss Council member Ryan Jackson's comments about a transgender council candidate and his threats to release information he says he has about local TV personalities to anti-LGBTQ sites, the city's newspaper of record appears to be advocating Jackson's removal.
In an editorial in today's edition, titled "Council needs to act on comments," the Globe noted that Jackson's threats against the local television stations, particularly KSNF and KODE, which reported about his disparaging comments about candidate Ellie (Matthew) Wolsey, who was unsuccessful in the election earlier this month, appear to be illegal.
Attempts to intimidate people by releasing personal information is known as “doxing.” Missouri law bans doxing, specifically prohibiting sharing personal information — that would include cellphone numbers, addresses and emails — to cause harm or death or to cause fear of harm or death. If the threat were found to constitute harassment or stalking, Jackson could also face legal repercussions.
The editorial notes that Jackson says his comments are protected by the First Amendment.
While free speech may protect Jackson’s comment, it doesn’t relieve him of his responsibilities as an elected official. Nor does it protect him from the consequences of his remarks.
The Globe concluded its editorial by advocating for steps to be taken against Jackson.
While all legislative bodies should be hesitant to oust someone voters approved, this isn’t Jackson’s first offense and both incidents involved his comments about LGBTQ residents. Censure or even removal should be on the table.
If the Joplin City Council fails to act, city residents should pursue a recall petition.

Nothing short of his removal is acceptable!
ReplyDeleteDamn right! Jackson is a bigoted jackass. Boot him back to his white supremist compound!
ReplyDeletePretty simple... if he runs for reelection don't vote if don't like his viewpoint on LGBTQ.
ReplyDeletePut it to a vote!
ReplyDeleteJoplin voters voted him and now Joplin residents want him gone because of his opinion and beliefs.
ReplyDeleteSo who’s more out of line here, the voters who elected him to office for not knowing the person better or those who disagree with his opinions and beliefs?
I don’t know the councilman personally and I did not vote for him either. But for those who did vote for him is this a case of reap what you sow?
The Joplin voters did not choose Mr. Jackson. He ran unopposed. Yes he received 2,500 votes but there were no other choices for Zone III. Facts matter.
DeleteChapter 77
ReplyDelete< > Effective - 28 Aug 1939 bottom
77.340. May remove officer with consent of council. — The mayor may, with the consent of a majority of all the members elected to the city council, remove from office, for cause shown, any elective officer of the city, such officer being first given opportunity, together with his witnesses, to be heard before the council, sitting as a court of impeachment. Any elective officer may, in like manner, for cause shown, be removed from office by a two-thirds vote of all the members elected to the city council, independently of the mayor's approval or recommendation. The mayor may, with the consent of a majority of all the members elected to the council, remove from office any appointive officer of the city at will; and any such appointive officer may be so removed by a two-thirds vote of all the members elected to the council, independently of the mayor's approval or recommendation. The council may pass ordinances regulating the manner of impeachment and removals.
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(RSMo 1939 § 6875)
Prior revisions: 1929 § 6729; 1919 § 8216; 1909 § 9153
Butterbean seems like a very angry person. Too emotional for leadership.
ReplyDeleteAs usual, the screaming minority is the loudest. I think you all would be shocked, to find that his views fall into line with the majority of Joplin. And another thing, NOW the Glob is the greatest thing since sliced bread? I guess as long as they fall into line with that same screaming minority. All you fools want is anyone silenced who doesn't agree with your twisted, degenerate opinions.
ReplyDeleteAgreed
DeleteThe screaming minority got their feelings hurt. You got an opinion, we got an opinion.
DeleteThey would have to remove me as well. If your name is Matthew, then I’m calling you Matthew. When you enter into a position such as the this, leave your crappy foolish luggage at the door.
ReplyDelete2:10 seems very disingenuous. If my name were Matthew, and I requested you call me Matt, you would call me Matt.
DeleteIt only becomes an issue when you choose to display your ignorance and hypocrisy.
Waitta second, I’ve got a bigger question here: The Globe still exists?!?
ReplyDeleteElected officials should know state and local laws, period. Threatening to dox someone for reporting his statements accurately is illegal. Jackson is like too many politicians--he doesn't regret what he did, just that he got caught doing it. If he believes his views are correct, why is he angry that voters know it? We don't need this man baby representing us.
ReplyDeleteEver notice the folks who get there feelings hurt by freedom of speech?
ReplyDeleteWhat party do they belong to?
Yet they say the most outrageous things like there is no such thing as gender.
Dems have been coming after freedom of speech for years. They have their own people doing it without even realizing they are doing it, death by a thousand cuts….
Everyone open your eyes, it’s all smoke and mirrors…
Threatening to dox someone is not a part of that freedom of speech. Much like telling someone you want to kill them. These are not protected speech.
DeleteThese people are in the public already he threatened to release information that has been available with a click of the mouse, pull your head out and look at the sunlight it won’t hurt you
DeleteIt’s this easy genius
Deletehttps://www.fourstateshomepage.com/meet-the-ksn-kode-team/
It’s public information
That's not the same as his threat. But ok, go ahead and keep being a creep.
DeleteDo I agree that the public should know the candidates correct name, yes. And then also his preferred name as well. What I don't agree with is how he was threatening to release peoples private phone numbers, address or email address. Ryan Jackson has every right to disagree with them, however he took the low road by threatening them by releasing private information.
ReplyDelete939, you too, can take your misaligned, miserable, bigoted self back to the white supremist compound. I can assure you, you're in a small minority of deplorable hate mongers that exist because ignorance seems to attract filth.
ReplyDeleteAnd how proud I am, unapologetic and happy. No mental health issues here, how about you?
DeleteThis is shaping up just like Carthage's City Council - could be in the lead and zinc wells.
ReplyDeleteWhile we're all at it, it's time to remove trump as well. The illegal Iran war is a catastrophic failure and we"re all paying for trumps "under the table" personal financial business dealings to Saudi, Yemen,and etc. There was no threat to Americans from Iran, this illegal war is about trump and his fulfilling (protection from Iran) for shady deals with Middle East wealthy.
DeleteBetween all the toxic heavy metals in the water and all the 4 State's toxic churches and pastors claiming their sky pilot tells them 'zactly what to do, it makes for a truly evil mixture to steep the local rebiblicans in.
DeleteSuggest taking a look at the other related post with the Council Agenda on the Turner Blog here.
ReplyDeleteSome comments of interest.
Further, the intensity of the emotions involved here, and the statements of
aggressive push back by some organized public groups suggest to me that
a 'cooling off period' for the Council would be appropriate, to allow
all of the public groups massing for instant action to take a second look,
and take a deep breath and hold back from where they seem to be going.
In the meantime the issue is one of a type of employment contract, and
does perhaps have some legal ramifications for the City and Councilmembers, so
moving the initial discussion Monday night to a closed session seems advisable.
Serious discussions and open dialogue and sincere expressions by the Council
in the setting of sign waving, catcalls and an atmosphere of intimidation are not
conducive to a sober discussion and unrestricted comments by Council members.
Some may be tempted to 'play to the crowd' and avoid temperate public reflection.
Sometimes government and it's leaders do their best work behind closed doors.
DeleteKSN has the names and addresses, and phone numbers of contacts at the station at the bottom of their website page. Including, I think the reporter who recorded the call and wrote the story, which may seem biased to some outside observers. As someone said, perhaps Mark Twain, never get into an argument with someone who buys ink by the 40 gallon drum, same goes for the TV folks. Media has a tremendous power and one man alone against them is an unbalanced situation. This is why media corps. should act with restraint and lessen their bias when possible. The Globe has been far to the left on this issue for years, evidently so now is KSN. The Globe is acting in haste, anger, and I wonder if they should back off. Did they request removal when a former Mayor real estate developer took advantage of poor homeowners after the tornado? when the Council OKd 881$ million for Wallace Bajali, losing millions in the process? no on both counts. But now they are out for blood. Mr. Jackson should offer a sincere regretful apology to those in the media concerned, explain his moral the religious views, including his belief that we all are created by God with a purpose, and other should consider some form of forgiveness and not retribution leading group action by the good citizens of Hadleyburg.
ReplyDelete