Who else was behind this violent plot? Donald Trump … and Facebook.
Trump regularly broadcasts dangerous lies and instigates racist and sexist violence online. He spewed racist slurs directed at Senator Kamala Harris, after she called out his failures when she was on the vice presidential debate stage. He encouraged attacks on Gov. Whitmer for her work to protect people from COVID-19 — and his supporters turned to Facebook to recruit others and plan their violent plot.1
Right-wing extremists used Facebook to plot this attack on Gov. Whitmer.2 They may have been stopped, but other violent extremist groups are still using Facebook to recruit, peddle racist conspiracy theories, and harass women leaders online.
Tell Facebook: Protect women leaders from attacks and disinformation by hate groups.
Representatives Ilhan Omar, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, and other women of color leaders have been reporting death threats and online abuse for years.
Instead of protecting women leaders, Facebook amplifies right-wing disinformation and harassment. A company executive just admitted that racist and sexist conspiracies actually have an advantage on Facebook's algorithms.3 That's how right-wing extremist groups recruit new members, spread malicious lies, and plan attacks so effectively on the platform.
Facebook cashes in on racist and sexist clicks. The company leaves women of color leaders in real danger. Hateful disinformation can ruin their election chances. Others are scared away from politics altogether.4
And yet brave women still push forward to fight for all of us. Gov. Gretchen Whitmer is carrying on with her head held high. For the first time in history, a Black woman is our vice-presidential candidate.
Up and down the ballot, more women are courageously running for office to take back power. They're going up against Trump, Facebook, and growing right-wing hate groups and trolls — but they can't do it alone.
Election Day is very close, and the stakes are higher than ever for women, especially for Black, Indigenous, and women of color. Our lives and bodies are on the line. Robyn, it's up to us to protect our candidates and our democracy from Facebook, and we don't have much time.
Tell Facebook: Protect women leaders from attacks and disinformation by hate groups.
Thanks for fighting with us!
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