PEABODY — Conservative internet personality and former radio host Dianna Ploss filed papers with the Office of Campaign and Political Finance (OCPF) Monday organizing a candidate’s committee to run for governor.
The filing papers show a Peabody address for Ploss, who has not listed a party affiliation. West Brookfield resident Lisa Johnson is listed as Ploss’ campaign manager, with Wareham resident Margot Walbourne as treasurer of the committee
Ploss’ website describes her as “Massachusetts’ loudest and bravest citizen journalist and freedom advocate.”
“Dianna calls out all adversaries of Freedom: Communists, Islamists and Establishment Republicans,” the site says. “Dianna is a staunch supporter of President Trump and his America First agenda … Dianna never backs down. Dianna never gives up. And, Dianna encourages freedom lovers to do the same!”
Ploss lost her talk radio show on WSMN in Nashua, N.H. in July 2020 after posting a video of herself demanding that a Spanish-speaking landscaping crew speak English. Her Twitter and Facebook accounts have also been removed, but she frequently posts videos on her YouTube page.
Ploss began organizing weekly Thursday rallies in support of then-President Donald Trump in April 2020 in Swampscott, near the home of Gov. Charlie Baker. The demonstrations began as a protest against COVID-19-related restrictions, but soon began to include racist imagery and language.
The protests were the site of the Dec. 12 arrest of Black Lives Matter activist Ernst Jean-Jacques, also known as Shimmy, after a confrontation with Trump supporter Linda Greenberg. Greenberg was seen throwing water at Jean-Jacques, and Ploss, among other Trump supporters, allege that he punched Greenberg in response; Jean-Jacques and his supporters maintain that he simply reached out to take Greenberg’s water bottle out of her hand. Jean-Jacques’ case is scheduled to go to trial on Aug. 18.
Neither Ploss or members of her campaign team responded to requests for comment.
