Issue:

Facebook Oversight Board Opens Door for Trump’s Return in Six Months

WASHINGTON, DC — Today, Facebook’s Oversight Board announced its decision to uphold the ban imposed on Donald Trump after the deadly riots in the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021. The following is a statement from Madihha Ahussain, Muslim Advocates’ special counsel for anti-Muslim bigotry

“This decision is not something to celebrate. It is a shameful indictment of Facebook and the Facebook Oversight Board that we just spent several months waiting to see if a man directly responsible for one of the darkest days in modern American history would be allowed to once again spread hate and lies online. Further, we are extremely concerned that the Board’s decision leaves the door open for Facebook to let Trump back on the platform in six months—an unacceptable and dangerous outcome. Letting Donald Trump back on Facebook will hurt Muslims. Donald Trump has used Facebook to spread hate and conspiracies about Muslims and immigrants and to amplify anti-Muslim white nationalists. His posts have caused Ilhan Omar and Rashida Tlaib to receive death threats. This cannot happen again.

On Facebook, Trump spread a false conspiracy theory about the presidential election and directed people to attend the January 6 event at the U.S. Capitol, which turned into a violent insurrection resulting in five deaths and dozens of injuries. Since then, Trump has continued to spread lies about the election and still commands support from the same groups involved in the insurrection. Permanently banning him from the platform was obviously the right thing to do to keep the public safe and it is extremely worrying that the Oversight Board would even question that.”

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Muslim Advocates is a national civil rights organization working in the courts, in the halls of power and in communities to halt bigotry in its tracks. We ensure that American Muslims have a seat at the table with expert representation so that all Americans may live free from hate and discrimination.