“#Shootback” Posters Appear In West Hollywood, Call On Gays To Arm Themselves

"This is not the voice of the city," says WeHo mayor Lauren Meister.

From: NewNowNext

 In the wake of Sunday’s massacre at Pulse nightclub, an underground campaign has launched to encourage LGBT to arm themselves.

Stickers and posters featuring a rainbow flag with the “Don’t Tread on Me” snake and the hashtag “#ShootBack” have begun to appear in L.A.’s West Hollywood gayborhood this week.

The image of a coiled rattlesnake on a flag—known as the “Gadsden flag”—dates back to the American Revolution, and warns this country’s enemies that if you oppress us we will strike. In more recent years it’s been co-opted by the Tea Party and other reactionary movements.

 This new flag was slapped on light poles, trash cans, electrical boxes and other areas near WeHo City Hall, the Pacific Design Center and the Abbey, perhaps the best-known gay club in Los Angeles.

“We are disturbed by them,” West Hollywood Mayor Lauren Meister told the L.A. Times. “We don’t believe in an eye for an eye, and we advocate against gun violence.”

“Whoever is doing this,” she added, “this is not the voice of the city.”

Capt. Holly Perez of the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Office says the images only make the situation more tense.

“I understand the sentiment behind them and 1st Amendment rights, but it’s a bad message,” she explains. “I hope it’s just people venting that they could do this, and I’m hoping their calmness will take over. It’s our job to keep you safe.”

Capt. Perez says she understands the desire to fight back, “But there are ways to do that without a gun.”

City workers are removing signs that have been placed in public places.