I’ve decided to join in with a twitter cause.  To show my support for Elliot Madison, I’ve turned my twitter avatar into the anarchist red and black.

Elliot Madison was arrested by the FBI for helping to coordinate communications between protesters at the Group of 20 Summit in Pittsburgh.  He used computers and scanners to track police movements and relayed that info to protesters.

Apparently, saying where the police are and where they’re going is a crime.  Apparently, helping people to protest is to help them commit a criminal act.

So yeah, I’ve changed my avatar colour to support Mr. Madison.  And I hope you do too.  You can do it here, or just click on the pic below.

pic nicked from here via here

I hope it helps out.

I know that when the Iranians were rioting it became quite popular to show support by turning twitter avatars green.  I never joined in.  Not because I thought it was a bad idea but because I didn’t support the Iranian protesters.  I didn’t know enough to take a side and I couldn’t care less about who runs Iran.  As Michael Jackson’s death proved, no one else cared either.

I, for one, think it’s a bit fucked up to pretend to be down with something like bloodshed when it’s just television to you.  If you can just change the channel, just stay the fuck out of it.  Because you will just change the channel.  And you don’t want people thinking they can depend on you.

Many of the western people who turned their avatars green, when faced with riots in their own city, would be demanding a police clampdown.  It looked cool to be on side with the Iranians but when it comes to local action about local problems, a lot of these folks are going to be staying in bed.  Or taking the wrong side.  Or just keeping their mouth shut.  But this is something that effects you.

If you cared enough about freedom to support Iranians, you should care about it enough to support an American social worker and his right to communicate and aid protest.  You should get involved where you live.  About things you understand.  About issues that affect you.

Because this shit is important.  It will impact what you can tweet about.

What worries me is that first they arrest people like Elliot Madison for relaying information to people on the street, then they arrest people like me for speaking our minds.  It doesn’t ever stop unless we stop it.  And do you want to live in a world where The Grumpy Owl is not allowed?  If so, try China.  I’m banned there.

So let’s change up our avatars, pay attention to what’s going on and pray that Madonna doesn’t die before Mr. Madison is freed.  Our tweets might depend upon it.