Disgrace on our poll workers
Ruby Freeman, a 62-year-old election worker in Georgia, became the target of one of the most damaging lies to emerge after the 2020 election. Freeman and her daughter, Shaye Moss, worked the polls in Fulton County, counting ballots diligently in an election already clouded by baseless fraud claims. After a video of Freeman and Moss simply doing their jobs circulated online, conspiracy theorists — including key figures in the Trump campaign — accused them of pulling out hidden “suitcases” of fake ballots. This falsehood spiraled into one of the most vicious disinformation campaigns during the post-election period.
Despite numerous officials confirming that the video showed routine ballot handling, the damage was done. Ruby Freeman was publicly named by Rudy Giuliani, and even President Trump himself mentioned her during his phone call with Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger, accusing her of participating in election fraud. Freeman and her family became the target of death threats, racist slurs, and relentless harassment. The FBI even advised Freeman to flee her home for her safety.
Shaye Moss, Freeman’s daughter, also suffered. Strangers showed up at her grandmother’s house, and threats shook her family to its core. Moss, once passionate about public service, had to go into hiding. She and her mother had to live with the terrifying realization that lies, amplified by powerful voices, could completely ruin their lives.
Their story isn’t unique; it represents a broader issue in parts of the country. Misinformation, propagated by those trying to undermine democracy, has devastating, real-world consequences. Innocent people like Ruby Freeman and Shaye Moss become scapegoats for those unwilling to accept the truth.
It’s hard to reconcile these two realities — one where election workers are terrorized for just doing their jobs, and another where people dismiss an attack on the Capitol as media hype. But this is where we are. The truth about January 6th and the suffering of people like Ruby Freeman is ignored or downplayed in much of the country.
This election is about cutting through the noise, standing up for decency, and voting for leaders who are unafraid to confront lies head-on. It’s not just about politics — it’s about people. People like Ruby Freeman, Shaye Moss, and so many others who have been harmed by disinformation. It’s time to vote for leaders who believe in truth, decency, and accountability because, without those values, we risk losing everything that makes this country worth fighting for.
Ruby Freeman and her daughter's ordeal as election workers targeted by conspiracy theories. NBC News, 2022. The disinformation campaign against Ruby Freeman and Shaye Moss. The New York Times, 2022. Giuliani and Trump’s role in amplifying false claims about Georgia election workers. The Washington Post, 2022.
