On Friday, Twitter joined a slew of other social media companies in permanently suspending Donald Trump’s accounts. Subsequently, many other conservative users found themselves deplatformed by the tech giant. The tech oligarchs’ argument is that Trump’s social media presence incites violence, as evidenced by the riot in the U.S. Capitol on Wednesday.
Twitter argued that several of Trump’s tweets violated its Glorification of Violence policy, which states, “You may not threaten violence against an individual or a group of people. We also prohibit the glorification of violence.”
Unsurprisingly, there are countless Twitter accounts that regularly call for harm or violence, in violation of this policy, yet have been allowed to persist. While the president’s posts and remarks have included some awful things, they have been in no way worse than much of what transpires on the platform.
Ayatollah Khamenei, the supreme leader of Iran, has an intact Twitter account that consistently glorifies acts of violence, yet the brutal dictator has not faced any censorship or suspension. After the heartbreaking beheading of a French teacher because he showed a political cartoon depicting Mohammad, and a mass stabbing in a church in Nice, Khamenei focused vitriol on those murdered, claiming the “rage” of Muslim extremists had demonstrated its “vitality.”
Following the insults to the #Prophet, the Islamic nation is filled with rage & objections. From the east to the west of the Islamic world, many Muslim officials & people have defended the Islamic identity & Prophet's noble personage, which shows the Muslim communities' vitality.
— Khamenei.ir (@khamenei_ir) November 3, 2020
Today, the main enemies of Islam are the Arrogant Powers & Zionism. The last manifestation of their enmity was the Paris incident. It is not just about one caricaturist committing a wrongdoing. Arrogant Powers & Zionism support this. That's why they speak in defense of such acts.
— Khamenei.ir (@khamenei_ir) November 3, 2020
Khamenei also called for Israel to “perish” and has promised “revenge” on the United States. But Twitter is more offended by President Trump than a theocratic dictator who supports terror attacks and threatens other countries.
Even though some govts started a treacherous, contemptible move toward normalizing relations with the Zionists, they're too small to end the matter of #Palestine. No! Palestine will be free, while the fake Zionist regime will perish. There's no doubt about this.
— Khamenei.ir (@khamenei_ir) November 3, 2020
Those who ordered the murder of General Soleimani as well as those who carried this out should be punished. This revenge will certainly happen at the right time.
— Khamenei.ir (@khamenei_ir) December 16, 2020
During this summer’s Black Lives Matter demonstrations, politicians, celebrities, and other users praised those taking to the streets in protest. Many also championed the associated riots, which cost livelihoods and at least 30 lives as cities burned.
Football player turned activist Colin Kaepernick was vocal in his support for the violent rioting that overtook many American cities. He has been both “glorifying” actual violence and encouraging it to continue. Rather than censor his account in any way, Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey donated $3 million to Kaepernick’s organization.
When civility leads to death, revolting is the only logical reaction.
The cries for peace will rain down, and when they do, they will land on deaf ears, because your violence has brought this resistance.
We have the right to fight back!
Rest in Power George Floyd
— Colin Kaepernick (@Kaepernick7) May 28, 2020
Floating around social media was the Martin Luther King Jr. quote, “A riot is the language of the unheard,” ignoring the context and nuance of his words from a speech in which the civil rights leader refused to condemn rioting, but also did not encourage it, advocating instead for nonviolence.
"A riot is the language of the unheard" – Martin Luther King Jr.
These people are not "opportunistic" or "thugs". They're tired of your shitty system and normalised racism. How are we STILL debating this stuff in 2020? #BlackLivesMatter— Jacksepticeye (@Jack_Septic_Eye) May 29, 2020
Vice President-elect Kamala Harris joined many public figures in tweeting support and the link for the Minnesota Freedom Fund, which collected bail for those arrested while rioting in Minneapolis this summer. Such activity actively helped elongate and encourage the violence, which took two lives and caused more than $500 million in property damage. Harris had publicly called for Trump to be removed from Twitter for encouraging rioters, despite being guilty of the same behavior herself.
If you’re able to, chip in now to the @MNFreedomFund to help post bail for those protesting on the ground in Minnesota. https://t.co/t8LXowKIbw
— Kamala Harris (@KamalaHarris) June 1, 2020
There are a shocking amount of tweets that declare that all members of certain groups deserve to die, including but not limited to “republicans,” “white men,” and “cops.” The entire platform is filled with threats of murder, assault, and rape. How do these posts not directly contradict Twitter’s supposed ban on calls for or glorification of violence?
Today seems like a good day for another reminder that all republicans deserve to die & also to add that most liberals are also complicit in all of this & also deserve to die https://t.co/ycWxnAQu6Q
— Matt (@Mmm_Brownies) October 6, 2018
Republicans deserve to die!! Make the guillotine red again!!
— Axl Barnes (@axlbarnes) May 5, 2017
I love that all the women that ted bundy killed were white woman they deserved it just like all white women deserve to die
— Michael Braatz (@BraatzMichael) September 13, 2015
However all white women deserve to die.
— U Aderallready Know ✘ (@FuckOutDaWhey) June 1, 2013
Twitter’s permanent suspension of President Trump’s account is clearly not about the rules, but an exercise of power over its political opponents. Wednesday’s riots were not the cause, but the excuse used for Big Tech to do what they’ve been wanting to do for years — keep conservatives from speaking on public platforms.
Story cited here.