Read on Twitter
1/ By now many of you have seen the tweet with the lunatic theory advanced by a Q Anon adherent and Florida congressional candidate that Beyonce is not, in fact, black. Let's talk about Q Anon for a moment, and who is making money from it.
2/ The FBI has identified Q Anon as among the conspiracy theories that may lead to domestic terror. It has already led to violence. Here is a piece I wrote for @just_security a year ago, around the same time Q adherents began speaking at Trump rallies. https://www.justsecurity.org/65659/trumps-encouraging-qanon-may-result-in-violence-just-ask-the-fbi/
3/ Q adherents are desperate for public office. The researchers @AlKapDC has identified 60 current and former candidates who embrace Q Anon messaging and ideas. https://www.mediamatters.org/qanon-conspiracy-theory/here-are-qanon-supporters-running-congress-2020
4/ Notably Donald Trump advances Q adherents whenever he can, retweeting them and including Q Anon imagery in campaign materials. Yesterday, for instance: https://twitter.com/AlKapDC/status/1279778324148035586?s=19
5/ Many in the Trump orbit are part of the game. Michael Flynn, for instance: https://twitter.com/julianfeeld/status/1279666500337405954?s=19
6/ Social media sites- every one of them- allow Q to flourish in posts and groups. There have been takedown, but the genie is out of the bottle. A recent Guardian investigation by @juliacarriew found more than 3 million followers and members on Facebook. https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2020/jun/25/qanon-facebook-conspiracy-theories-algorithm
7/ At this stage we are used to social media sites monetizing hate, conspiracies and lunacy. But who else is making money? How about @Etsy, which boasts more than 1200 Q Anon items. Here is that oath Flynn took on an Etsy mug. See what else is for sale: https://www.etsy.com/search?q=%22q%20anon%22
8/ How about Amazon? Again, hundreds and hundreds of products. Put your baby in a Q onesie. https://www.amazon.com/s?k=%22q+anon%22&page=6&qid=1593972088&ref=is_pn_5
9/ @eBay is selling thousands of items. https://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_nkw=%22q+anon%22&_trksid=p2380057.m4084.l1313.TR12.TRC2.A0.H0.X%26quot%3Bq+anon%26quot%3B.TRS0
10/ Mugs on @Wayfair (just a few!) https://www.wayfair.com/keyword.php?keyword=%22Q+anon%22&class_id=
11/ @Walmart is selling books, mugs, and Keychains https://www.walmart.com/search/?query=%22q%20anon%22
12/ I think it matters that brands like @amazon, @Walmart, @etsy and others permit the sale of items that advance this dangerous conspiracy theory. It legitimizes it. @JeffBezos should be ashamed. @jgsilverman should be ashamed. You are contributing to this hateful lunacy. /End
