I'm going to respectfully remove my witness proxy @logiczombie.

I'll state why below:

Although your post outlines accounts you suspect are part of a collusion ring with intent to silence free speech, it doesn't exactly provide any proof. Just screen shots of the suspected accounts with strong protest to remove votes if the user supports free speech.

This would require research to verify, and some links to hiveblocks transactions or other potential verification/research avenues would be helpful for those of us who are not adept at blockchain forensics, as well as more descriptive language in the post itself of these links and the nature of how you came about figuring these things out. This information is not present in the post.

I've studied intently the comment thread in the post and can see many valid points raised by some of the accused parties.

I also see very valid points raised by you as well, like:

(IFF) you want to downvote to mitigate "abuse" (THEN) you must clearly define "abuse"

(IFF) you downvote someone (THEN) you should let them know what the fuck they did "wrong"

(IFF) you only support speech you agree with (THEN) you do not support free-speech

I agree with each and every one of these statements wholeheartedly, but this does not give validity to the claims against the accused, it's more of an ideology as I see it.

Although you are able to link connections to proxied accounts, it does not prove the intent of the proxies, which was succinctly expressed in some of the retort by the accused, and I see claims that some people are not even reachable for some time now who delegated their resources some time ago. We have to consider all the variables of why this could be, and the potential idea that there could be delegated resources from people who may not even be alive anymore, or could have lost their keys, or just been so consumed in other things that they do not even check. There are almost an endless list of variables to consider with non reachable accounts who may be proxied or delegating resources.

Ultimately my decision is on the basis of an irrefutable point made by @acidyo, that to just blindly accept something as a fact without putting in the appropriate research to verify is simply unacceptable, and I cannot find any dispute whatsoever with this logic. I think even you would agree with this logic, based on the idea that people are voting for abusive accounts unwittingly so because they have not taken a look at what their witnesses are doing in totality.

What I can say, is I have worked directly with some of the accused, and I have been supported by some of the accused, and even after my poor judgement call, I have not been attacked by the accused. Could it be some of this information might not be 100% accurate? I don't know because I have not put in the appropriate research, but until I do so, it is not proper for me to proxy out my witness votes on allegations alone.

I want you to know that this is not me picking sides. It is me considering the implications of my decisions, and coming to the determination that I was not correct with my decision to proxy without researching first.

It does not change how I feel about you, because I consider you a friend who is intelligent and has a lot to offer to others with your knowledge and insight(s), as well as your kindness and respect towards others, which you have always displayed from what I have seen. At least with me, you have never treated me poorly or given me any reason to dislike you.

So it is my hopes that you will compassionately understand the basis of my decision.

I hope that the accounts attacking you and others will stop, and that your efforts in making a difference will not be in vain. You have already made a positive impact on others, and I'm confident you will continue to do so.

Thank you for your efforts in promoting free speech, education, and encouragement to others.