Has Turtleboy Finally Taken Things Too Far with Worcester Elected Officials?
Thursday, July 02, 2015
Patrick Sargent, GoLocalWorcester Contributor
Last week, the City of Worcester held its fifth discussion of a seven-part series of Community Race Discussions facilitated by the United States Department of Justice. The discussion focused on the role that media and online social networks play in perpetuating or dismantling racism.
As GoLocalWorcester reported, at the entrance of Worcester Technical High School where the event was held, several members of the Progressive Labor Party were already outside holding signs that read "End White Supremacy" and "Stop Racist Terrorism," and handing out flyers on Symptoms of Structural Racism in social media.
The flyers were filled with remarks against local blogger Turtleboy Sports and used several examples accusing Turtleboy and alter-ego Clarence Woods Emerson of racism and hatred. One such example even accused Turtleboy Sports of stealing a social security number and posting it on Facebook.
These accusations are nothing new against Turtleboy Sports. The blog is continuously called racist by one side, and celebrated by many on another side. Just on the Turtleboy Sports Facebook page alone there are nearly 12,000 followers. The site has numerous local advertisers and recently added Wormtown Brewery and Firesafe Chimney Services.
Turtleboy Sports has even championed and supported Mayoral candidate Michael Gaffney and is currently promoting Gaffney's "Michael Gaffney for Mayor" Facebook page. The blog has come to the defense of teachers, rallied its followers to raise money for local causes, and is dialed in on the social media pages of Worcester's elected officials.
And yet, with its history of personal attacks, profanity-laced tirades, and the long list of people accusing the blog of being racist, has Turtleboy Sports finally gone too far?
In a letter sent to GoLocalWorcester, Dana Remian, a Developmental Services Worker for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and Community Activist, writes, "Much has been said, of late, of Aidan Kearney and the popular blog Turtleboy Sports. This blog has posted much hateful content directed at women, overweight people, immigrants, civic activists, community members, and leadership of color in our community. Turtleboy Sports has allowed for all manner of racist and sexually violent comments on their blog, while taking time to delete dissenting views."
Aidan Kearney and Turtleboy Sports
Aidan Kearney, who is often named as the creator of the blog, showed up after the community discussion and explained to another local media outlet that he only sells ads for the site.
Several people that attended the the community discussion at Worcester Tech were yelling towards Kearney and calling him “Turtleboy.”
"Mr. Kearney has dismissed ties to the site, claiming that he no longer writes for the site, but acknowledging that he is the site's marketing director," added Remina. "Let us be clear in this matter: as the founder, owner, and financial beneficiary of the site's advertisements, he is more responsible than anyone else for its content and more empowered to shape its content than anyone else."
Attacks on Elected Officials
Since that event, over the past week or so, Turtleboy Sports has become even more vocal and in a litany of blogs has called out City Councilor Sarai Rivera and accused her of “supporting racists,” has shared a voicemail that Rivera supposedly left on her sister’s voicemail three years ago, and called her profession as a pastor a means to profit.
"We take issue with the word "attack." Sarai Rivera has badmouthed TBS on several occasions and used the fact that she's a "pastor" to elevate herself morally. We have a right to defend our reputation against false claims from elected officials," a representative of Turtleboy Sports told GoLocal. "So yes, the fact that she's leaving hateful voicemails like that while masquerading as a religious leader is information that the public has a right to know about."
The blog has also recently gone after Worcester school committee member Tracy O’Connell-Novick for supporting anti-panhandling laws in Worcester, berating her social media presence and accused her of being upset that she didn’t get the endorsement of the Worcester teachers union.
"The fact that she (Novick) blogs and tweets during School Committee meetings is a slap in the face to the people. She should look people in the eyes when they address the School Committee. If you don't look someone in the eyes then you're not really listening," said the TBS representative.
In the past year alone, writers for the blog have gone after Worcester Mayor Joe Petty, City Manager Ed Augustus, School committee member Hilda Ramirez and City Councilor Rick Rushton. The blog has also written about appointed city workers Superintendent Melinda Boone, Worcester Public Schools spokesperson Jennifer Roy, and North High Principal Lisa Dyer, as well as a number of local activists in the city.
"Politicians should put their personal opinions out there if they please. As much as I disagree with Sarai (Rivera), at least she has a spine and stands for something," said the representative from Turtleboy Sports. "These people need to let us know what side they're on. Do they favor the lawlessness and disrespect exhibited by the protesters, or do they stand with taxpayers and hard working Worcesterites?"
"If Mr. Kearney is being truthful about handing writing of the site over to friends, perhaps he needs to find himself better friends," said Remian. "Friends who will not allow him to take the fall for their anonymous activity while continuing to allow criticism to fall on him."
