I still have people who were complicit, who were cheerleaders for this abuse or even actively participated in it, come up to me in public. Whether I'm at the library, on the street, or at a public event. Even now, six months after leaving Council.
You never get to be a member of the public again.
Some of the worst of it has been when people I love and have a duty of care for became collateral damage - like when photographs of the children of staff from the organisation I'm chairperson of were shared with defamatory, hateful comments.
Things that are good when things can seem very bleak:
- very good ham, mushroom, and cheese toastie from the library cafe
- people showing up to things and asking great questions and getting involved
- new navy blue jumper that's very snuggly
- fog lifts to winter sunshine
- persimmons
I still meet people shocked and unaware that this was occurring, who had no idea that a 30yo city councillor could be facing a co-ordinated campaign of harassment, disinformation, and death threats that's spanned seven years now.
It's a difficult line to walk - highlighting the realities so people understand the without achieving their goals of having less people stand for public office, as well as speaking about the personal sacrifices I've had to make without revealing or undoing the strategies that help to keep me safe.