Facebook Blocks Berkeley Based Non-Profit From Promoting Hate Crime Awareness
FACEBOOK BLOCKS BERKELEY BASED NON-PROFIT FROM PROMOTING HATE CRIME AWARENESS
Mayor Arreguín Will Introduce A Resolution Condemning Facebook for Algorithms that Created Fertile Ground for Hate Crimes to Flourish While Censoring Efforts to Promote Awareness and Inclusion
October 27, 2021
BERKELEY – Today, Berkeley Mayor Jesse Arreguín announced that he will introduce a resolution condemning Facebook following the company’s rejection of a non-profit’s attempt to promote awareness about hate crimes. Earlier today, Facebook rejected a Berkeley-based non-profit’s attempts to promote hate crime statistics on their Facebook page after it registered and followed the social media giant’s required steps. The company’s failure to enable important information that seeks to raise awareness about hate speech and hate crimes comes amid revelations that the social network has become a major platform for the proliferation of misinformation, polarization, and hate speech.
“Facebook tuned its algorithm to promote hateful and divisive content and now it is censoring legitimate efforts to raise awareness and build inclusion around the impact of hate crimes,” said Berkeley Mayor Jesse Arreguín. “Social media has the power to connect and bring us together, but Facebook’s algorithms have had a poisonous and corrupting influence by intentionally over-representing and exposing billions of users to the worst that humanity has to offer. To benefit its bottom line, Facebook spiked the punch to breed more controversy. That brewed more hate and created the fertile ground upon which hate crimes in America have surged. While the company drowns out the voices of those who seek to raise awareness about the impact of hate in our communities, Facebook is giving a microphone to malicious organizers who promote destructive and chaotic events such as the violent protests in Berkeley, Charlottesville and the attack on the United States Capitol. This is a company that knows no shame.”
In 2017 Berkeley was invaded by far-right groups that organized events on Facebook centered around speeches by racist provocateurs. The impact on the community led local activists Patrice O’Neil and Jacquelyn McCormick to start United Against Hate which performs outreach and intervention in communities to promote understanding, healing, reconciliation and redemption centered around its annual “United Against Hate Week.” Since its inception, United Against Hate week has grown from a local event to a national movement to restore respect and civil discourse, embrace the strength of diversity and build inclusive and equitable communities for all.
The non-profit, United Against Hate, had attempted to promote awareness through a campaign on Facebook, but the company rejected the ads and the non-profit’s appeals, stating that it violated their advertising policies on social issues. A copy of the proposed ad and Facebook’s rejection is below. Mayor Arreguín’s resolution condemning the social media giant will be voted on at the November 16th Berkeley City Council meeting.
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