Color Of Change
For Immediate Release: January 7, 2021
Media Contact: media@colorofchange.org
Color Of Change: “Facebook must permanently ban Trump and take action against his enablers”
NATIONWIDE — In response to Facebook’s announcement that it will suspend President Trump’s Facebook and Instagram accounts indefinitely, Color Of Change President Rashad Robinson released the following statement:
“Facebook’s decision to suspend President Trump’s accounts until the Inauguration is important and necessary, as it will help keep Black people and our democracy safe from the violence Trump and his enablers continue to invoke following the insurrection carried out Wednesday by a mob of his supporters. But let’s be clear — Mark Zuckerburg does not deserve applause for taking action at the 11th hour, after years of damage has already been done. Facebook is unquestionably complicit in the violent insurrection on Capitol Hill yesterday, and in the erosion of our democracy that’s continued to unfold in plain sight.
Like many longstanding Trump allies who are only now standing up for what’s right in a last-ditch effort to rehab their public image, Mark Zuckerberg is enacting this temporary suspension not to protect our democracy but rather to protect Facebook’s power and profits. Facebook relinquished its platform to far-right extremists, white supremacists and domestic terrorists long ago. The company has ignored repeated warnings from Color Of Change and other advocates about the dangers of promoting Trump’s rhetoric as well as the growth of far-right radicalization on the platform. We recommended the company hire an expert on the growth and development of white nationalist and militia groups on social media platforms — Facebook refused. We called on them to suspend Trump’s account months ago — Facebook refused. We demanded they do more to protect users from the hate and misinformation that continue to proliferate on its platform — Facebook refused.
Facebook leadership refused to take action, at times even in the face of deadly consequences, because they wanted to appease the administration in power. Now that a Democratic majority in the Senate is set, it’s suddenly convenient for Facebook to suspend Trump. Facebook has proven time and time again that they will prioritize growth, power and profit above all else. We are not fooled.
The hatred, division and bigotry that Trump and his administration have inflamed will not immediately dissipate with the upcoming change of power. Facebook must permanently ban Trump and take action against his enablers and allies who continue to use the platform to incite violence and spread dangerous misinformation. But we know Facebook will not do the right thing on its own, given its track record of failing to self-regulate. We cannot allow our democracy and communities to be at the mercy of corporations that put growth and profit over everything else. The Biden-Harris administration and incoming Congress must create and enforce new rules to reign in the outsize power of Big Tech and hold companies like Facebook accountable for their role in harming Black communities and our democracy.”
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About Color Of Change:
Color Of Change is the nation’s largest online racial justice organization. We help people respond effectively to injustice in the world around us. As a national online force, 7million people have taken action with Color Of Change this year. We move decision-makers in corporations and government to create a more human and less hostile world for Black people in America. Visit www.colorofchange.org.