Australian Police Arrest Activist Wearing ‘I’m With Stupid’ T-Shirt · Global Voices
Kevin Rennie

I'm With Stupid – image courtesy Judi Jabour ‏@judi_jabour tweet
In Queensland, Australia, online activist Iain Fogerty, who runs a parody Twitter account of the state premier, was arrested and “charged with public nuisance” after standing next to campaigners in Brisbane during the first week of the state election campaign.
Fogerty pokes fun at Queensland State Premier Campbell Newman with his @can_do_campbell account, imitating the politician for humour and satire.
Wayne Jansson aka @Jansant, an Australian citizen journalist and photographer, summed up the feelings of many on social media about the arrest on 8 January 2015:
On a day of international solidaity behind free speech, Campbell Newman's police arrest a man 4 wearing a T-shirt LNP didn't like #qldvotes
— Jansant (@Jansant) January 8, 2015
@EnviroStudent also made the connection with the tragic events in Paris and the @JeSuisCharlie hashtag:
#JeSuisAvecStupide #imwithstupid #qldpol pic.twitter.com/EJ3sL7HyKV
— Je Suis Avec Stupide (@EnviroStudent) January 8, 2015
Fogerty was waving next to a group of people campaigning for the governing Liberal National Party when he was arrested, the Guardian reported:
Queensland man arrested for waving next to LNP campaigners in ‘I’m with stupid’ T-shirt http://t.co/PSuGNOhQw0 and #imwithstupid trending
— Mari R (@randlight) January 8, 2015
It was no surprise that the #imwithstupid hashtag has trended on Twitter.
Inevitably, Campbell Newman became the butt of Photoshop parody:
#ImWithStupid @theqldpremier pic.twitter.com/FiTfFkwJsI
— Alassin Sane (@Lone_Deranger_) January 8, 2015
The premier is wearing the cap:
Looks like those #imwithstupid t-shirts are everywhere. Thanks to @ozbryster pic.twitter.com/ljmQ6qLl0Z
— Anne Carlin (@sacarlin48) January 8, 2015
Queensland police commissioner Ian Stewart found himself defending his colleagues actions:
We take appropriate action if individuals break the law. Court decides the lawfulness & consequences. Our focus- keep u safe. @PaulTully
— Ian Stewart (@CoPStewart) January 8, 2015
Earlier in the day he had tweeted:
Again lives lost in attack on our freedoms b criminals in Paris. We can never b complacent! Thoughts with our French colleagues. @QPSmedia
— Ian Stewart (@CoPStewart) January 7, 2015
This image from Atom Smasher was tweeted several times:
Stupid T-shirt sign – courtesy Atom Smasher (atomsmasher.org/construction)
Anyway, as another cliché puts it: “If you didn't laugh, you'd cry!”