Thread by @RVAdirt

Last month we broke the news on twitter that @_PaperMoonSS had booked a show with Roger Stone. Since then, people have called for it to be cancelled and national media has covered the event.

W/ the event a few days away, I want to emphasize safety concerns w/ this event.(1/24)🧜🏻‍♀️

https://twitter.com/rvadirt/status/1109983131887640577

Shortly after my initial post last month someone reminded me of Roger Stones connections to the violent far-right neo-fascist group known as the Proud Boys.

Similar to @TheNationalRVA hosting #BLEXIT, @_PaperMoonSS hosting Roger Stone has serious safety concerns. (2/24)🧜🏻‍♀️

After being reminded of the RS-PB connection, I had an online convo with @BlackCat_Events. We discussed some of the concerns I have about the event. His stance was pretty clear: free speech. (3/24)🧜🏻‍♀️

Since that convo, the event has gotten national news coverage and despite online calls for the event to be cancelled, the show is still scheduled to go on. (4/24)🧜🏻‍♀️

I can understand and appreciate @BlackCat_Events belief in free speech as I am also a big fan of the first amendment. That said, the 1st Amendment says that CONGRESS shall make no law to limit free speech. Private establishments are not held to the same standard. (5/24) 🧜🏻‍♀️

That means it is up to the business whether or not they will host an event or speaker. That applies to @BlackCat_Events decision to pursue booking Roger Stone and @TheNationalRVA’s decision to accept the #BLEXIT booking request. (6/24) 🧜🏻‍♀️

The reality is that events like this are a choice. I do not believe that ‘profit’ is a valid way to justify business decisions that have a harmful impact or unintended consequences. Just because a business CAN doesn’t mean they SHOULD. (7/24) 🧜🏻‍♀️

What harm comes from @_PaperMoonSS hosting Roger Stone who has been repeatedly connected to the violent far-right neo-fascist group known as the Proud Boys?

Well... *ahem*.... (8/24) 🧜🏻‍♀️

1. Proud Boys have perpetrated acts of violence at past events they have attended.
2. Hosting an event that attracts individuals connected with a violent organization to Richmond is an increased risk to groups of people normally targeted by far-right neo-fascists. (9/24) 🧜🏻‍♀️

3. Hosting an individual connected with violent far-right neo-fascist groups such as the Proud Boys signals that host location is a safe space for them to come to. Not just for this one event... but also in the future. (10/24) 🧜🏻‍♀️

4. Signaling that a location is a welcoming space for people associated with violent far-right neo-fascist groups such as the Proud Boys provides helps them organize. In-person meeting spaces is critical at a time when they are all being deplatformed online. (11/24) 🧜🏻‍♀️

In summation: just because a business CAN prioritize private profit over community safety doesn’t mean we, the people, HAVE to quietly accept that as an amenable answer. (12/24) 🧜🏻‍♀️

.@BlackCat_Events can go full #TRUMP by hiding behind free speech while screaming #DeportAntifa so @_PaperMoonSS can make a few bucks if he wants.... but the reality is that the concern of violence started because of a speaker they decided to invite to Richmond. (13/24) 🧜🏻‍♀️

In my opinion, it is not appropriate for a business to turn a blind eye to the reality of the situation they created so they can turn a buck.

So, last week I had a follow up online convo w/ @BlackCat_Events. (14/24) 🧜🏻‍♀️

In that convo, I reiterated my safety concerns and asked that they reconsider their decision to host the event. @BlackCat_Events responded by citing his stance that he doesn’t believe in deplatforming America and if people don’t like it, they don’t have to listen. (15/24) 🧜🏻‍♀️

We had a good dialogue where I continued to express that my concern was primarily with regard to safety. At the end of the convo, @BlackCat_Events acknowledged my points but nothing would change citing the media attention and ticket sales. (16/24) 🧜🏻‍♀️

Which, it is totally @_PaperMoonSS’s prerogative to run a business model that values profit over people.

It is also totally a consumer’s prerogative to decide how they feel about a business based on what the business’s decisions say about their company’s values. (17/24) 🧜🏻‍♀️

While I personally wish @_PaperMoonSS would cancel the event, I know they won’t. Instead of calling for everyone on here to demand they cancel it, all I ask is that you find a way to hold all businesses in your life to a higher ethical standard. (18/24) 🧜🏻‍♀️

For some people, that might mean calling 804-353-4386 and asking @_PaperMoonSS to cancel the event. For other people that might mean encouraging friends to frequent businesses who have a reputation for valuing people over profit. (19/24) 🧜🏻‍♀️

Some people may simply decide to use this information to take a mental note to be cautious for their own safety in general because @_PaperMoonSS decided to host an event that attracted Proud Boys leadership to town. (20/24) 🧜🏻‍♀️

I hope everyone’s takeaway here is bigger than this singular event.

Private industry grasping at free speech to protect profits doesn’t have to be tolerated by consumers. BUT if we want them to listen, they have to hear it on the phones AND feel it in their wallet. (21/24) 🧜🏻‍♀️

In my convo with @BlackCat_Events last week he indicated that despite traction online of people demanding, the event be cancelled, there was not a significant volume of calls coming in to back up the online presence. (22/24) 🧜🏻‍♀️

Unfortunately businesses that value profits over people won’t change until they perceive their profits are threatened. What are ways we can successfully challenge and overcome that reality? What is the approach when workers wages stand to be impacted by protect? (23/24) 🧜🏻‍♀️

‼️Today is April 30th.‼️
‼️Roger Stone is scheduled at on May 4th.‼️

In these last few days, I urge you to start taking action NOW to hold businesses accountable for prioritizing SAFETY over PROFIT starting with demanding better from @_PaperMoonSS. (24/24) 🧜🏻‍♀️

@threadreaderapp unroll