The RNC will be nothing more than a multi-million dollar celebration of Trump’s hateful rhetoric.
Demand corporate sponsors like Google, Twitter and Facebook stand up for our communities and stop funding Trump’s coronation at the RNC !
Dear friend,
Donald Trump's racist, xenophobic, and misogynistic rise to the top of the GOP mountaintop is undeniable. His coronation, slated for July's Republican National Convention (RNC), will be a lavish affair dedicated to celebrating and promoting his violently racist platform. But while major companies like Microsoft and Coca-Cola have at least said that they will not put cash donations towards a coming out party for Trump’s campaign, as of now, tech companies like Google, Facebook, and Twitter plan to not only fund, but boost that message of hate.1
These tech companies say all the right things about being “diverse”, but time and again – whether through hiring practices or, in this case, bankrolling hate speech – betray what little regard they have for communities of color. Facebook and Twitter in particular have built their billion dollar companies on the backs of Black folks yet repeatedly fail to show up for us when it matters.2
The simple fact is that these tech companies are funding a candidate who has leveraged endorsements from white nationalist leaders such as Jared Taylor, former Klansman David Duke, and race-baiting demagogue Pat Buchanan to secure his candidacy. White supremacist forums have dubbed Trump their 'Glorious Leader', crediting him for a dramatic rise in hate groups and traffic to their sites.3 This is why will we continue to call on Google, Facebook and Twitter to stop taking our hard-earned dollars and using them to fund a platform of hate and violence.
These tech companies keep repeating the same tired talking points that their sponsorship of Trump’s coronation is just “to promote civic engagement and democratic participation.” But we all know that’s not true. This is about buying access to political power, about making sure that they can cozy up to Trump. And it’s not like Trump – a billionaire – needs their support and platforms. They’re just rolling out the red carpet and giving corporate approval for his hateful rhetoric. It’s time for Google, Facebook and Twitter to demonstrate real civic responsibility and stand against Donald Trump's bigotry, or kiss their multi-million dollar diversity marketing campaigns goodbye.
A Trump presidency would be devastating to Black communities and our movements for justice and equality. If elected, Donald Trump would have full control over the law enforcement agencies that are already doing significant harm to our communities – the FBI and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). And with Trump’s strong disdain for protesters and the movement for Black lives, it does not take much imagination to consider the brutal actions he would take against our justice movements. This is why corporate sponsorship of Trump’s coronation is so dangerous, because it signals that this type of hateful and dangerous behaviour is acceptable; that being a clear and present danger to minority communities is something tech companies can get behind.
Companies like Google, Facebook, Twitter and others have spent millions of dollars trying to market themselves as diverse and inclusive brands, but they don't get to pick and choose when and where they have to walk the walk. When their corporate dollars are used to fund a platform of violent hate, they are just as culpable as Trump, and we will continue to publicly pressure any company who takes money from marginalized communities by day and sponsors hateful, violent rhetoric by night.
Until Justice is Real,
Brandi, Rashad, Arisha, Evan, Bernard and the rest of the ColorOfChange team.
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References:
1. “Facebook, Twitter taking part in GOP convention despite anti-Trump pressure,” The Hill, 05-5-2016
http://act.colorofchange.org/go/6283?t=9&akid=5760.1942551.9vNvx2
http://act.colorofchange.org/go/6283?t=9&akid=5760.1942551.9vNvx2
2. “Why Twitter and the Rest of Silicon Valley Should Disclose Their Diversity Data,” Time, 07-18-2014
http://act.colorofchange.org/go/6284?t=11&akid=5760.1942551.9vNvx2
http://act.colorofchange.org/go/6284?t=11&akid=5760.1942551.9vNvx2
3. “White supremacist: Trump is great for web traffic,” Sun Times, 12-10-2015
http://act.colorofchange.org/go/6286?t=13&akid=5760.1942551.9vNvx2
http://act.colorofchange.org/go/6286?t=13&akid=5760.1942551.9vNvx2
ColorOfChange is building a movement to elevate the voices of Black folks and our allies, and win real social and political change. Help keep our movement strong.
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