Remember when the left celebrated rebels? Sticking it to the man? Standing up against the establishment?
Yeah, neither do I.
Now they celebrate the obedient, stick it to the small business owner, and stand with the establishment.
Witness the latest attempt at shoehorning a show of defiance and an attempt to make a living in the face of draconian lockdown rules into the "white privilege" narrative.
How does HuffPost manage this feat?
It's easier than you might think.
Adam Skelly, like so many small business owners, decided to defy lockdown rules and open his restaurant to indoor dining.
First things first, let's cast aspersions as to his motives.
"On Tuesday, a white Toronto restaurant owner named Adam Skelly decided he was angry about Ontario's lockdown rules. Lots of small business owners were, as it meant a big hit to their financial wellbeing,..."
He just wants "financial wellbeing." Not "financial feeding my family," or "financial provide a means for my employees to feed theirs."
Nope, he's in it for the money.
"But, rather than pivoting to a takeout or delivery model,..."
Which HuffPo knows is totally viable because they know way more than Adam Skelly how to run a BBQ joint in Toronto.
"...or organizing to lobby the government to change its rules, Skelly decided the law was wrong and he was right, so he would just ignore the rules and open his Etobicoke restaurant for indoor dining anyway."
Defy the authorities? What kind of crazy talk is that? They're authorities! You can't defy them.
Unless you're protesting for social justice, of course, which is fine. Maybe he should have peacefully lobbed some fireworks at them.
Next, infer dark motives and complicity with said authorities.
Fist Bump-gate!
Next, cherry-pick a couple of events that have little to no relation to the one you are trying to condemn.
"By contrast, in the days before the BBQ culture war started, the city shut down a community fridge that provided free food to area locals, and issued a warning letter to a Black man, Khaleel Seivwright, who built shelters for the homeless that aren't permitted on city property."
Nearly identical circumstances, except FOR THE COLOR OF THEIR SKIN!!!
Then, sprinkle in a few comments from some random people theorizing without any evidence whatsoever the ways they would have been treated differently.
You must also downplay the consequences of his actions.
"Skelly was arrested two days later. His crowdsourced legal defence fund, which launched Wednesday evening, has raised more than $133,000 as of this post's publish."
Sure, he got arrested, but he's got a legal defense fund!
I'm not sure if HuffPo understands that the purpose of a legal defense fund is to handle all the legal trouble you're in. Doesn't matter, White Privilege!
It's more than just being arrested, too, he also spent a night in jail, had to post a $50,000 bond, and is being barred from social media, things HuffPo neglected to add.
Finally, wrap it all up in a bow with a big old non-sequitur,
"So, to recap: throw paint on a statue — if you're Black, spend the night in jail. Purposely and publicly defy provincial by-laws meant to stop the spread of a pandemic — if you're white, get fined, and keep on trucking for two days."
One thing, though. If you're going to suggest someone is benefiting from white privilege, it would probably help to not lead your article off with a photo of a white guy in handcuffs.
Kind of wrecks the narrative.
