Ex-FBI director deletes Instagram post of shells in ‘8647’ formation that Republicans claim is code for assassination

A photo of seashells posted on Instagram by the former FBI director James Comey is now being investigated by the US Secret Service, after the US homeland security secretary Kristi Noem said it constituted a “threat” against Donald Trump.

On Thursday, Comey posted a photo of seashells forming the message “8647”, with a caption that read: “Cool shell formation on my beach walk.”

Trump’s supporters have interpreted the message as an endorsement of violence against Trump – the 47th president. There is more debate around the use of 86, a slang term often used in restaurants to mean getting rid of or throwing something out, and which, according to Merriam-Webster, has been used more recently, albeit sparingly, to mean “to kill”.

  • LifeInMultipleChoice@lemmy.dbzer0.com
    link
    fedilink
    English
    arrow-up
    78
    arrow-down
    2
    ·
    3 days ago

    More recently to mean to kill?

    It’s used daily at every restaurant/grocery store to mean they are out of an item. 86 cheddar just means your out of cheddar, stop selling it.

    Are all the working class calling assignations on cheddar cheese they sold out of now?

    • xor@lemmy.dbzer0.com
      link
      fedilink
      English
      arrow-up
      39
      arrow-down
      1
      ·
      3 days ago

      people have been using to mean “fire trump”, so they’re reinterpreting it to mean “assasinate” so that way they can.
      a. round up critics.
      b. stop a catchy slogan so people don’t chant anything interesting at protests.

    • Daggity@lemm.ee
      link
      fedilink
      arrow-up
      13
      ·
      2 days ago

      Aoc has routinely been mocked for having been a bartender, so yes absolutely.

    • LEM 1689@lemmy.sdf.org
      link
      fedilink
      English
      arrow-up
      5
      arrow-down
      37
      ·
      3 days ago

      The phrase is used in a number of contexts, there is no “set” definition. Language evolves. The context here is solely up to the reader.

      • LifeInMultipleChoice@lemmy.dbzer0.com
        link
        fedilink
        English
        arrow-up
        27
        arrow-down
        1
        ·
        2 days ago

        Sure, so tomorrow when someone says sleep tight should I take it as have a good night and sleep well or that they want to bury me in the ground with no room for air? Lol. Stretching the possible meaning of a term and claiming language evolves shouldnt be enough to make claims that he’s calling for someone to be murdered. Honestly he should sue for slander/libel and endangerment to his self/family for someone making such claims.

        • qprimed@lemmy.ml
          link
          fedilink
          English
          arrow-up
          6
          ·
          edit-2
          2 days ago

          Honestly he should sue for slander/libel and endangerment to his self/family for someone making such claims.

          I think that might actually help the doj by providing an accepted definition.

          this will likely come down to the govts whimsical attempt to criminally define clearly amorphous (but protected) speech for its prosecutorial benefit. a criminal case should loose lose instantly up and down the courts. we may get a chance to test that.

          • LifeInMultipleChoice@lemmy.dbzer0.com
            link
            fedilink
            English
            arrow-up
            4
            arrow-down
            1
            ·
            2 days ago

            If people cared about rights they would have brought Hunters case before the Supreme Court and said it was legal/illegal to make stipulations around purchasing/owning a firearm. It would have put Republicans in an anti gun stance. His charges for buying a firearm, not causing harm and supposedly being addicted to drugs while seeking help was a great example that Republicans don’t care about gun rights. They care about being better than someone else.

            Johnson said it:

            “If you can convince the lowest white man he’s better than the best colored man, he won’t notice you’re picking his pocket. Hell, give him somebody to look down on, and he’ll empty his pockets for you.”

      • Timbits@lemmy.ca
        link
        fedilink
        arrow-up
        21
        arrow-down
        1
        ·
        2 days ago

        I find what you’ve said to be a death threat against my life and demand you get locked up.

      • qprimed@lemmy.ml
        link
        fedilink
        English
        arrow-up
        8
        arrow-down
        1
        ·
        3 days ago

        there is no “set” definition

        👍 bread & circus about to get a whole lot circus-ier. wonder if they have the balls to charge?