Thread by @igorvolsky

1/ The circumstances surrounding the Kenosha shooting, which left 2 ppl dead and injured another are so incredibly infuriating I don't even know where to start

This THREAD explains how @facebook, and Republican rhetoric are radicalizing extremists and turning them into killers.

@Facebook 2/ @theverge is reporting @facebook, which has a long history of refusing to proactively de-platform armed insurrectionists, refused to take down the page of a self-proclaimed militia group called Kenosha Guard, which issued a “call to arms” to in advance of Tuesday's protest.

@Facebook @TheVerge 3/ @Facebook *refused* to deactivate the page even though at least 2 separate Facebook users reported the account for inciting violence prior to the shooting. theverge.com/2020/8/26/2140…

@Facebook @TheVerge 4/ Turns out, the Kenosha shooter is a big Donald Trump fan. Trump, to remind y'all, can't even say the words black lives matter. Trump calls black lives matter a "symbol of hate." Trump equates protesters with "terrorists" buzzfeednews.com/amphtml/elliev…

@Facebook @TheVerge 5/ When protesters denounce the systemic crisis of police brutality against black men (in this case, Jacob Blake was shot 7 times in the back by police), Trump's superfans -many of whom meet on @Facebook to plan violence- arm themselves w/ readily available weapons

@Facebook @TheVerge 6/ The social media accounts of this killer are filled with him posing with weapons, posting “Blue Lives Matter,” and supporting Trump for president. He was also a police Safety Cadet Program and had access to 2 types of guns before Tuesday. buzzfeednews.com/amphtml/elliev…

@Facebook @TheVerge 7/ So, he goes out, fully armed. A law enforcement official in an armored truck gives him a bottle of water! 

After the shootings, the shooter WALKS TOWARD 4 POLICE VEHICLES HOLDING HIS WEAPON. PEOPLE ARE SHOUTING THAT HE IS A KILLER. POLICE DRIVE PAST HIM AND DO NOT DETAIN HIM.

@Facebook @TheVerge 8/ Now, as @MelissaRyan points out, the far right is turning this killer INTO A MARTYR.

Just look at this:  

https://twitter.com/MelissaRyan/status/1298741171649478657

@Facebook @TheVerge @MelissaRyan 9/ To review: Trump spews hate against Black & Brown ppl who are being killed by cops

When the community demands justice, white supremacists & other extremists who meet each other on @Facebook go out and cause more violence

They're then glorified as martyrs on these platforms

@Facebook @TheVerge @MelissaRyan 10/ If you don't think this is a preview of what we're in store for as we get closer to the election and after the election, get your head out of the sand and start paying attention.