A group of environmentalists seeking to halt an up-state mine in Wisconsin took a violent turn when they began promoting an image of a girl holding a large knife and the severed head of Gov. Scott Walker.
About 4,000 people are members of the “Citizens Preserving the Penokee Hills Heritage Park” Facebook page.
According to administrators of the page, the purpose is to “provide an avenue for the distribution of research, education and information pertaining to preserving the Penokee Hills as a national heritage park in Northwestern Wisconsin.”
It adds, “This is not a forum for angry, violent or confrontational acts against people or property, but a forum focused on protecting the water, the resources and life giving aspects of the environment.”
But the image posted by Jeannie Michelle is anything but.
As of this writing, the image, on which she wrote, “Holeeeee wicked….. #TruthTho #Walker2016 #WIFail #AntiNdn #ProMiner #Genocide,” has 192 “likes” on Facebook.
But not all like it.
“This discussion has turned this group into a violent, angry and vengeful lot. I thought that the goal was to stop the mine, not behead Scott Walker. I’ll bet there a lot of members of this group that are scratching their heads wondering what the hell is going on here! Time to turn the page and concentrate on what needs to be done to prevent another company from mining the Penokee hills,” PatPatti Andraska wrote.
The Wisconsin Daily Independent reports the artist is Native American painter Jodi Webster.
“My intentions in creating works are to enlighten the perceptions of Native people as well as positively promote women and children. By highlighting my own heritage within my work, I hope to make others aware of the distinct cultural beauty represented by each of the various 566 tribal identities,” Webster says, according to the news outlet.
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