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Yesterday, GPUSA and hundreds of Wet’suwet’en frontline and solidarity activists organizing against Coastal GasLink pipeline were blocked from @Facebook due to a May 7 event targeting @KKR_Co, major pipeline funder -- project opposed by all of the Wet’suwet’en Hereditary Chiefs.
Some accounts have been reinstated after many demands of @Facebook, but many remain blocked from using the platform. The social media giant has not explained why this happened on such a large scale or why we’ve been targeted. We want action and answers now.
When the ban started, Facebook claimed activists violated its Terms of Service around intellectual property guidelines and accounts would be blocked for 3 days. Here is what we know:
There was an online action planned for 9/21 against KKR’s funding of Coastal GasLink pipeline. Not having access to Facebook hindered our organizing. KKR have not responded to over 230,000 emails they received demanding they stop funding Coastal GasLink https://actionnetwork.org/petitions/sign-the-petition-to-protect-indigenous-sovereignty-demand-fossil-fuel-profiteers-jpmorgan-chase-and-kohlberg-kravis-roberts-co-divest-from-coastal-gaslink-pipeline?source=GPUS-FB-ban-tweet
We demand to know if @KKR_Co instigated this targeted mass banning by filing an unfounded IP complaint about the 5/7 event, and what process @Facebook used to validate the claim. Facebook functionally enabled mass censorship of hundreds of voices. We want action and answers now.
What’s next? An official complaint will be sent to Facebook demanding answers. In the meantime, please message or tweet at @KKR_Co now and demand they respect Indigenous Rights by divesting from the Coastal GasLink pipeline project now. https://actionnetwork.org/letters/messagekkr #ShutDownKKR
Corps like @Facebook shouldn’t have power to silence activists based on unsubstantiated claims from fossil fuel companies & funders. If this is what happened, it is yet another dangerous and unacceptable example of a corporation wielding unchecked power over popular movements.
And - remember that although these corporations, like @Facebook and @KKR_Co, can try to ban and silence individuals, this movement is too powerful to stop! #WetsuwetenStrong #ShutDownKKR
