![]() It will be the eighth time in five years he will have been forced to move home as he strives to keep one step ahead of the fanatics who relentlessly hound him. ![]() A few weeks ago, “hoaxers” – as he calls conspiracy theorists – reproduced a map of his Florida neighborhood with a dropped pin marking the precise location of his apartment. L enny Pozner, 51, is preparing to pack his bags, again. Photograph: Ali Smith/The Guardian Lenny Pozner’s six-year-old son Noah died at Sandy Hook in 2012. Lenny Pozner's six-year-old son Noah died at Sandy Hook in 2012. This event got me to a point where I just can’t be myself again.” Or like beat me to a pulp.”Īs the anniversary of the shooting approaches, they find it hard to understand why they were singled out. ![]() “I get very nervous because they might recognize me and want to actually pull something out on me. But they have become less trusting of people and freezes whenever they see someone dressed in camouflage or wearing a Make America Great Again hat. They are in therapy to combat the bouts of panic and sleeplessness that still trouble them. Over the past six months, Fontaine has slowly pulled themselves back together. I didn’t want to go out, I just wanted to be with myself.” Soon, they started having frequent panic attacks. “I wasn’t able to function, to cook, do basic tasks. It just got me so afraid.”ĭeath threats and autism spectrum conditions make poor bedfellows, and exacerbated Fontaine’s condition, ramping up their anxiety, insomnia and social isolation. The first death threats landed via Facebook messenger by nightfall: “I hope someone throws you out of a rotary aircraft, you commie!” Another made a direct reference to the concert venue that employed them. “I knew a lot about the Alex Jones fanbase – that they were radical extremists who believe every word he says, and that a lot of them hold firearms. The false rumor quickly spread from Miami to Beijing.įontaine was horrified. Alleged photo of the suspect shows communist garb,” the outlet screamed. Its “reporter” lifted Fontaine’s photo directly from 4chan and, without any attempt at verification, ran with it on the front page. Photograph: Ali Smith/The Guardianįrom there, Alex Jones’s conspiracy theory site, Infowars, leapt into the fray. Marcel Fontaine was horrified to discover that they were accused of being the Parkland gunman. At moments of heightened stress, they flap their hands like a bird. They’d only visited Florida once when they were a little boy to see Mickey Mouse.įontaine, 25, describes themselves on Twitter as a “non-binary gay queer autistic commie that loves horror movies and metal!” They were diagnosed as being on the autism spectrum as a child and for years has struggled with anxiety and a debilitating stammer. It would take a four-hour flight to reach the school. ![]() What shooting? Where? Fontaine was in Massachusetts, 1,500 miles away. Their immediate response was bewilderment. A photo of Fontaine was flying around the internet and they were being accused of carrying out the terrible Florida shooting. Seventeen had been killed, though Fontaine, who has no cable TV or radio, was oblivious to the tragedy. A 19-year-old with an AR-15 semi-automatic rifle had entered the Marjory Stoneman Douglas high school in Parkland, Florida, and opened fire. Their life was good.īy the time they roused themselves, the deadliest high school shooting in US history was already over. When they woke up, a wave of happiness washed over them – they were in a relationship, had a job they loved at a local concert venue. They slept late into the afternoon, having worked a double shift the day before. V alentine’s Day 2018 was Marcel Fontaine’s day off. Photograph: Ali Smith/The Guardian Marcel Fontaine describes themselves as a ‘queer commie on the autistic spectrum’. Marcel Fontaine describes themselves as a 'queer commie on the autistic spectrum'.
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