Poplawski's profile photo from his MySpace page
Richard Poplawski, the 22-year-old man authorities say shot and killed three Pittsburgh police officers on Saturday, posted pictures of his tattoos on white supremacist websites and told friends he believes President Obama wants to take away individuals' right to bear arms, according to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.
Poplawski is alleged to have shot the officers Saturday morning after they arrived at his mother's home in response to her 911 call. When the officers entered the home, Polawski allegedly shot them in the head from close range.
The Post-Gazette reported that an affadavit from eyewitnesses, including the mother, says Poplawski had been stockpiling weapons and ammunition after he was kicked out of the Marine Corps for assaulting a drill sergeant.
Edward Perkovic, a lifelong friend of Poplawski's, spoke to the Post-Gazette, which reported that Poplawski frequented fringe websites and was concerned about a secret government cabal that is supposedly taking away the second amendment and forming a domestic military to enforce its agenda. [Perkovic now says he was misquoted]
"He was really into politics and really into the First and Second amendment," Perkovic said. "One thing he feared was he feared the gun ban because he thought that was going to take away peoples' right to defend themselves. He never spoke of going out to murder or to kill," he said, according to the Pittsburgh paper.
Perkovic said Poplawski was a believer in conspiracy theories about Obama and the federal government espoused by the filmmaker Alex Jones, whose website Prisonplanet.com pushes Jones's documentary films and radio show along with his fringe ideology about a New World Order and Obama's role in a quest for world government, according to the Post-Gazette.
UPDATE: I'm correcting the article only for attribution. Perkovic did not say Poplawski was a "believer in conspiracy theories," that is a my characterization of what the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reported.
Perkovic wrote on his MySpace page today that "media scum" (namely, yours truly) are misquoting him. This should clear me from "slander."
UPDATE II: PrisonPlanet.com, the website run by followers of Alex Jones, has responded vigorously to media outlets' reporting of this story and attempts to debunk any association between Jones and Poplawski.
Today, writers Kurt Nimmo and Paul Joseph Watson take the Anti-Defamation League (ADL) to task as the source of the allegations about a Poplawski connection to Jones's beliefs.
Here is some of their explanation:
A vicious smear attack on Alex Jones and his websites launched by the ADL in the aftermath of the Pittsburgh police shootings which attempted to classify Infowars as an outlet for “hate speech” has been discredited after the ADL’s own website admitted that Richard Poplawski held views that opposed those of the Texas radio talk show host.
Stories claiming that Poplawski was influenced by Alex Jones, Infowars and Prison Planet originally appeared Sunday in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette and Raw Story. Neither of these news organizations attempted to speak with us before claiming the link and Raw Story later issued a retraction and removed us from their original piece altogether after we questioned the sloppy nature of their writer Muriel Kane’s hit piece.
This doesn't address the Post-Gazette story, which reported that Poplawski's friends said he frequented Jones's websites. Perkovic denies this, and now the Post-Gazette has spoken to Jones:
Mr. Jones, in a telephone interview with the Post-Gazette, denied any extremist views and described himself as "more of a libertarian" than member of the right wing.
He also denounced the violence that took place in Stanton Heights and suggested it reflected growing worries about gun confiscation.
"When the police and the military attempt to come for the guns, which they're going to do, it's not going to go well."
He also complained that his views were being conflated with extremists that recruit people with legitimate concerns reflected on his own site and program.
"It's almost like I wake people up and they just get handed over to the nuts," he said.
Jones and his supporters have threatened action against media outlets that do not retract their stories, but the Post=Gazette seems to know it's onto something.
In my view, Jones and his followers are stoking fear and alarm. That does not make them responsible for Poplawski or others who might go off and kill someone after reading their websites or watching Jones's films.
But I believe Jones and PrisonPlanet.com contribute to an atmosphere of fear and indirectly bear responsibility for stoking a paranoia that may lead to violence.
--
For more information on Alex Jones, see my post: Anti-Obama DVD 'The Obama Deception' a Web hit
Special Report: Obama's First 100 DaysExclusive examiner.com coverage of the Obama administration's promise to bring about change.
Comments
While I am a firm believer in first amendment rights, these fringe conspiracy nuts should be held accountable for their encouragement of whack job gun nuts like this guy.
I fear now for the significant others of environmental activists. Back in 1977 Ira Einhorn, who was a big environmental activist and claimed to be one of the people responsible for creating “Earth Day”, murdered his girlfriend, Holly Maddux.
Based on the “if A then B” reasoning of the mainstream media, all of these enviornmental folks are unstable and need to be shunned.
Seriously, the more the mainstream media does these smear pieces on people who are doing the job THEY SHOULD be doing, the more it shows its true ugly colors. While this guy may have been unstable and indeed listened to Alex Jones that means nothing. I'm sure the author of this piece would act all tongue and cheek if confronted about the intent of this article and say "well he DID listen to Alex Jones, didn't he?" in an innocent laywer fashion, but anyone with any common sense can see that this article is trying to exploit the tragedy of this unstable young man's actions for political purpose and cast a dark shadow over an ever-increasing segment of the population that is beginning to queestion the reality mainstream media is trying to "sell" it, which includes very stable people such as politicans, doctors, lawyers, ect, and don't go alone with Obama's "change". The fact that this article puts Jones' name in the headline shows what the real intentiion of this article was-- a hit piece by another member from the collective union of self perceived "intellectuals" angry over the fact that their media is dying and that they've lost all their credibility to a public that they underestimated the intelligence of. God bless the people who are standing up to these "mainstream" media extremists.
So now Alex Jones is equated with the white supremacist movement? This is absolute irresponsible journalism. Trying to turn a quick dollar off of a tragedy which most likely was the result of a mentally ill individual who had MILITARY TRAINING? You want an answer to WHY? How about the psychological abuse that soldiers undergo during basic training? I would say that was most likely the reason why this man went off the deep end. You know, injecting a human being with experimental vaccines, which the military does on a regular basis...vaccines which contain POISON that can corrupt a human beings CNS (CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM) which includes the BRAIN...do you think there's a connection there? WHY ARE THE MEDIA NOT DISCUSSING THIS INSTEAD OF SMEARING A PATRIOT LIKE ALEX JONES. SHAME.
"filmmaker Alex Jones, whose website Prisonplanet.com pushes Jones's documentary films and radio show along with his fringe ideology about a New World Order."
John:
The New World Order is no longer "fringe" theory. The G20 Summit was it's coming out party, and there was an open declaration of the New World Order by Gordon Brown and others reported by news outlets that would likely meet your approval.
Just type G20 New World Order into Google news if you choose to stop living in denial.
There are always going to be weak-willed, loser nutcases like this that cannot handle various types of information without acting out violently. If any of you call for censorship of news sources you dislike, you better include music, video games, and film in the rush to censorship. Let's not leave anything out in the rush to make the world safe enough for you.
This really is irresponsible journalism. Equating this suspect with Alex Jones and/or "white supremacists" is totally absurd. Who is the clown who wrote this crap... a fellow at the laughable Southern Poverty Law center?
The New World Order is not "fringe ideology." Gordon Brown and that latest corporate puppet in the White House have been absolutely giddy about it for at least the past week. It's a well known fact that Obama's AG, Eric Holder, is a staunch gun grabber. It seems much more likely that the perp in this case went berserk over the lack of jobs and the raw corruption and thievery going on in our own government. Blaming a talk show host is frickin' crazy. You "progressives" are truly dangerous.
"Poplawski was a believer in conspiracy theories about Obama and the federal government espoused by the filmmaker Alex Jones, whose website Prisonplanet.com pushes Jones's documentary films and radio show along with his fringe ideology about a New World Order."
This is another attempt to group this criminal with honest, peaceful and responsible Americans who may or may not own a firearm, listen to Alex Jones and know of the NWO, which is not a fringe belief. The John Birch Society has documented and detailed an organized plan to create a global system of governance. All responsible individuals will point out the wrong doing of this individual while not simultaneously advocating the restriction of the individual rights of all other Americans, thus disarming them and making them even further vulnerable to the actions of violent people who do not follow laws. Another article on this same person questions if he was legally allowed to obtain firearms. The point is that laws can be ignored with ease. The foundation of this nation is the law abiding citizen. Rights are sacred, and to abandon your rights for security, whether it be economic or physical, renders you unworthy of either.
www.post-gazette.com/pg/09096/960938-100.stm
By Dennis B. Roddy, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette Accused cop-killer Richard Poplawski spent hours posting racist messages on an extremist right-wing Web site...
Alex Jones is a modern day Paul Revere. A very humble person, putting his saftey and his family's saftey on the line everytime he exposes the criminality of our government. To claim he is anything but a true patriot and a compationate humanbeing is not only insulting the intelligence of anyone who has actually listened to him but it's complete irresponsibility hack journalism.
The guy (Poplawski) obviously had mental issues. Don't blame Alex Jones or label his site white supremicist. That's like those idiot parents suing Judas Priest for their kids suicide...lame... There are terrible things done by this country Mr.Jones brings to light, it may not be happy, but at least he has the balls to do it. If you want something to really focus on, how about Obama continuing warrantless spying and eavesdropping, or invading/occupying Afghanistan. Ask Britain and Russia how that went for them... Or maybe the looting of America by the banks and corporations. Actually, don't, American Idol is on tonight. Stick to the nutcase stories, they're better ratings.
This guy had views much different then infowars.com and to link him to Alex Jones like this is Liable.
Sounds like its John Zorabedian is the one creating fear by writing false stories linking political talk to cop killing.
Zorabedian is a threat to the First Amendment.
"...Prisonplanet.com pushes Jones's documentary films and radio show along with his fringe ideology about a New World Order..."
Have you checked the mainstream headlines lately? At the G20 conference last week, Prime Minister Gordon Browne of Britian said, "I think a new world order is emerging."
You're the fringe now, buddy.
Look at the feedback. Alex Jones and other government whistle blowers are no longer fringe. This petty smear campaign removed any credibility this publication may have once had. I've never heard of examiner.com before, so perhaps that was the point. But you've just gone from zero into the red. Congrats.
All I have to say is "Robert Powell"....things have a funny way of working themselves out.
What A Pathetic, worthless American. Just vfollow the sheep
Hello Mr. Zorabedian... WE NEED YOU ON OUR SIDE - Freedom IS NOT Free... Please study the Constitution... Please.
I was never a fan of Mr. Jones and frequently attempt to debunk his claims. ATTEMPT is the operative word. Turns out, he's right more often than not. He proves it with actual documented facts.
This Poplawski piece of crap obviously failed to hear Mr. Jones begging people to do "Non-violent actions" to get results. Never has Alex called people to arms. NEVER.
Get the facts people. Before its too late.
Hey all you deniers ou there....
For the last decade, anyone saying "New World Order" was considered a "Nut Job" or "Wing Nut"
QUESTION:
Does that mean that all the world leaders at the G20 are "Nut Job" or "Wing Nut"????
Wake up or lay down!!!!
The "Jig Is Up"
People always want to blame someone else for the actions of a few. Such was the case when the family of a teenager attempted to blame their son's suicide on Ozzy Osbourne and his song Ultimate Sin! Unless someone held a gun to Poplawski's head and told him to shoot those cops then this assumption of Jones somehow influenced this young man, needs to be retracted.
Zorabedian your retarded.
THIS GUY IS A MAINSTREAM PROPAGANDIST TOOL....
I WONDER IF HE KNOWS WHAT AN ASS HE LOOKS LIKE SPEWING HIS LIES? THANKS FOR THE FREE PLUG FOR ALEX. WAY TO GET PEOPLE TO LOOK AT THE INFO...
INFOWARS.COM
PRISONPLANET.COM
INFOWARS.NET
PRISONPLANET.TV
You spread more propoganda then the CIA, the gunman had as much distain for Alex Jones as you do.
What are you talking about? The Wall Street Journal doesn't exist! Neither do, Bloomberg, Reuters, BBC, CNN, MSNBC, Fox News, The Financial Times, The Telegraph, Sky News, or even your own publication.
Orlando Obama Administration Examiner: "Gordon Brown: “A new world order is emerging…”"
Nothing to see here! So how about that sporting event? Have a beer!
Mr. Zorabedian,
Your an IDIOT, and probably the guy named BB posting on this comments section defending your own PATHETIC take on Alex Jones.
Not only is this article a simple attack on the messenger, it's a PATHETIC one at that. You failed to even mention of any single thing that you believed to be actually or factually incorrect in the Obama Deception. Instead, you chose to provide a simple commentary regarding the fact that AJ uses imagery and effects to enhance his video documentaries, and CRITICIZE him for actually being effective doing so.
People SHOULD be afraid of the NEW WORLD ORDER that Barry Soetoro is ushering in. Especially, when you consider that the US will NOT play a significant role in this NEW WORLD ORDER, or that the NEW WORLD ORDER will NOT be democratic or based on any elections. Make no mention of the fact that MURDEROUS, TORTUROUS, COMMUNIST, DICTATORSHIP REGIEM, CHINA, has recieved more "Global Governance" awards than any other country in the United Nations indicating the type of desired WORLD GOVERNMENT these SCUM wish to implement AGINST the American people.
People should be fearful that Eric Holder, and Nancy Polosi are trying to take our guns and make an end-run around the 2nd Amendment to do so. While at the same time, our main stream media is insisting that Obama is NOT against the 2nd Amnedment. Polosi is pushing gun registration similar to the California gun registration that led to the ban of certain types of registered weapons. Holder, our esteemed Attorney General is writing Supreme Court briefs saying that NO American citizen should be allowed to have a single shot, and that a militia is nothing more than the Presidentially controlled National Guard.
People should be afraid that Rahm Immanuel and Charlie Rangle are working on bring back the draft, calling it instead, "MANDATORY National Service," but more rightfully should be called SLAVERY!
Then we can skip the fact that Obama is continuing the Bush torture policies, the Bush wiretapping policies, the Bush PATRIOT ACT policies, the Bush rendition policies, the Bush Iraqi polices, the Bush Afganistan drug import policies, the Bush NAFTA polices, the Bush imperialist policies, the Bush Iran policies, the Bush Israeli polcies, and the Bush, "give America to the banksters," polices.
Instead, you attack people like Alex Jones for using cinematic effects when expressing OUTRAGE at the OBVIOUS and UNOBSTRUCTED criminal activities of our federal government. You should be ashamed of yourself.
you need to retract this. You are a liar.
I have an announcement related to Alex Jones that is very important but the Examiner censors me without a trace. This writer is defiantly on the payola program Bush pioneered. Very sad. Eisenhower was right.
It's not going to work Zorabedian - no one believes or cares about what you have to say, you fear-mongering disinformation-spreading piece of garbage.
Just to back up what everyone has been saying. Alex Jones is a true American patriot and the US government are the fearmongering torrorists. With all the bills that the senate is passing right now you and all the other lost sheep will find out who was telling the truth soon enough. Wake up before it's too late people. You must question your governments actions it is your right.
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