White nationalism
does not belong on Twitter.
Demand Twitter enforce stricter policies
to prevent hate speech.
Dear friend,
Twitter has turned a blind eye to white nationalism and now is a megaphone for hate speech. Twitter has yet to take action to change its terms of use to prevent the spread of white nationalist hate speech following the two-year anniversary of the deadly Unite the Right rally in Charlottesville, Virginia, and the recent white nationalist violence in El Paso, Texas. Twitter has failed Black and Brown people and continues to put us in danger. It’s long overdue for Twitter to adopt stricter policies to prevent the spread of hate speech online.
For years, Trump has used Twitter to incite hate, mobilize white nationalism, and invoke fear and prejudice in Americans. Twitter, a platform designed to connect and share ideas, is now home to white nationalists and other hateful ideological groups that wish to push harmful ideas to the masses and organize around those ideas. Since the 2017 Unite the Right rally, the most deadly white nationalist march in years, Twitter’s failure to address hateful ideologies and enforce more comprehensive policies against hate speech has allowed white nationalist to organize, fundraise for, and normalize attacks on our communities.
Last month, Trump used Twitter to direct a wave of hate at Rep. Ilhan Omar, Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Rep. Ayanna Pressley, and Rep. Rashida Tlaib, four Black and Brown American congresswomen, by demanding they "go back to their countries.” He followed that with more vicious and racist Twitter attacks against Rep. Elijah Cummings and Al Sharpton. Twitter announced last month it would label posts from world leaders when they violate company policies, but it has repeatedly failed to label Trump's racist tweets. Twitter has failed to combat racism and hate speech even according to the low bar it set for itself.
White nationalist violence continues to manifest across the country, fueled by unregulated social media platforms. As a result, real lives are at stake. Color Of Change, along Free Press and Media Justice, and other human, civil, and digital rights groups, have come together in a joint effort to form the Change the Terms coalition. Collectively we are demanding that Twitter adopt recommended corporate policies and terms of service to ensure that social media platforms, payment service providers, and other internet-based services are not places where hate speech and extremism can grow. It’s time we demand safe digital spaces for Black and Brown people to share, connect, inspire, and be free from hate speech and physical harm.
Until justice is real,
Brandi Collins-Dexter, Color Of Change
Jessica J. González, Free Press
Steven Renderos, Media Justice
References:
- “Two Years Ago, They Marched in Charlottesville. Where Are They Now ?” ADL, August 8, 2019, https://act.colorofchange.org/go/165078?t=12&akid=35176%2E1942551%2EI4es3-
- “Twitter Under Fire Again for Failing to Ban White Supremacists as Charlottesville Anniversary Nears,” Gizmodo, August 2, 2019, https://act.colorofchange.org/go/165079?t=14&akid=35176%2E1942551%2EI4es3-
- “Twitter Says Trump’s Tweet Didn’t Violate Its Rules Against Racism but Won’t Say Why,” The Washington Post, July 15, 2019, https://act.colorofchange.org/go/165080?t=16&akid=35176%2E1942551%2EI4es3-
Color Of Change 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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