Shireen Mitchell, the founder of Stop Online Violence Against Women, explains how Black identity is being weaponized online to push political agendas.
» Subscribe to NowThis: http://go.nowth.is/News_Subscribe
We’ve all heard about the Russian interference in the 2016 United States Presidential Election, but did you know that the division that was being created by this interference was a division that centered on Black identity.
Sherrilyn Ifill, President and Director-Counsel, NAACP Legal Defense Fund says, “Racism is a vulnerability in the United States that can be exploited” — the 2016 election interference was but one example that proved this to be true.
In 2014, Twitter users began noticing accounts posing as Black women, that were being run by men’s rights and pick-up artist communities, to co-opt social justice movements that were organizing online. The use of fake social media accounts such as these was a tactic that was used in the 2016 election to suppress the Black vote. During the 2016 election, 126 million Americans engaged with online ads tied to Russia-based operatives, like the Internet Research Agency.
A reported 25% of Black Americans having experienced online harassment, yet social media platforms have done little to protect users. Shireen Mitchell makes the call for the conversation to focus on the victims of these attacks instead of the attackers in order to solve this problem and move forward.
#YourSlipIsShowing #BlackVoices #Election #Opinions
Connect with NowThis
» Like us on Facebook: http://go.nowth.is/News_Facebook
» Tweet us on Twitter: http://go.nowth.is/News_Twitter
» Follow us on Instagram: http://go.nowth.is/News_Instagram
» Find us on Snapchat Discover: http://go.nowth.is/News_Snapchat
NowThis is your premier news outlet providing you with all the videos you need to stay up to date on all the latest in trending news. From entertainment to politics, to viral videos and breaking news stories, we’re delivering all you need to know straight to your social feeds. We live where you live.
http://www.youtube.com/nowthisnews
@nowthisnews