Thread by @StopFundingHate

We got a message earlier today from the Sunday Telegraph who say that they’re running yet another story tomorrow targeting Stop Funding Hate /1

This follows an earlier Sunday Telegraph report in August, claiming that a group of MPs had written to the CIC Regulator to complain about Stop Funding Hate’s work /2 archive.is/wm9K3

We know that similar vexatious claims about Stop Funding Hate were dismissed by the CIC Regulator in 2018. /3

We also know that Barnardo’s, Runymede and the National Trust have recently been the subject of complaints attacking their work on anti-racism or (in the case of the National Trust) examining the legacy of colonialism. The Charity Commission has rejected these as unfounded. /4

However, the Sunday Telegraph have now told us that “the CIC Regulator has called Stop Funding Hate to a meeting to discuss… concerns about its activities”. /5

We’re always happy to speak to the CIC Regulator, but if the Sunday Telegraph’s claim is true, then it’s the first we’ve heard of it. /6

So here is our reply to the Sunday Telegraph, which we thought it would be right to share here: /7

"This is not the first time that vexatious complaints have been made about Stop Funding Hate’s work. However we have received no correspondence from the CIC Regulator in relation to these latest claims." /8

"Stop Funding Hate is a non-political human rights organisation working to build a better media through the promotion of ethical advertising. All of our activities have been fully consistent with the law, and any suggestion to the contrary is wholly unfounded."/9

"In a free society, we all have the right to encourage brands to advertise ethically and avoid funding toxic media. To deny this would be to attack freedom of expression and undermine basic free market principles.” /10

So it's not yet Sunday, but it looks like the Sunday Telegraph were so keen to get their article out that they've published it already... archive.is/WpD97 /11

Despite the headline, the Sunday Telegraph's article about #StopFundingHate actually says the CIC complaint was thrown out: "In a response to the MPs' complaint, Louise Smyth, the CIC regulator, said that the company's activities had not breached the relevant regulations" /12

To be clear, Stop Funding Hate has, to date, received no communications from the CIC Regulator on this issue: archive.is/WpD97 /13

#StopFundingHate is a community of people from across society who refuse to be demonised or divided against each other. We're committed to challenging all forms of hate. Here are some of the ways that #StopFundingHate supporters have made a difference: stopfundinghate.info/2019/08/16/fiv… /14

We know that these campaigning tactics can be hugely effective. If you'd like to help build the #StopFundingHate movement, please consider becoming a committed supporter & making a regular donation: stopfundinghate.info/donate/ /15

A *huge* thanks to everyone who's sent kind messages of solidarity & donated to #StopFundingHate's work following the latest toxic Sunday Telegraph article. #StopFundingHate has always been a collective effort, & the positive response this weekend has been hugely heartening /16

We also know that no amount of misleading UK newspaper coverage can erase an idea. As consumers, we have the right to speak out & urge the companies we shop with to #StopFundingHate - & as more of us do, brands are becoming increasingly unwilling to align with toxic media /17