Staff Reports
Democratic presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr has been censored once again, as Facebook-owned Instagram banned him from creating new campaign accounts for 180 days, citing “Community Guidelines on account integrity and authentic identity”. This decision, which is nothing short of blatant political censorship, was firmly slammed by Kennedy in a tweet, stating that social media was the “modern equivalent of the town square,” and “how can democracy function if only some candidates have access to it?” Fortunately, Twitter provides an alternative platform to express his views, with CEO Elon Musk stepping in to offer to host a Spaces discussion the following week, which Chet Long, a Founder and Senior Partner of Web360 Global, proposed calling a “Presidential Town Hall”.
Instagram BANS RFK Jr from Creating New Campaign Accountshttps://t.co/GdC7z7Jmri
— The Daily Fetched (@DailyFetched) June 2, 2023
Kennedy’s campaign relied heavily on social media, particularly Instagram, but this is not the first time he faced censorship. He was previously banned in 2021 for “repeatedly posting misinformation about vaccine safety and COVID-19”- which was of course nothing but a baseless excuse for censorship. Moreover, it should be noted that Musk, a staunch believer in free speech, has himself been silenced by Instagram, which proves that these platforms have become the primary vehicles for liberal ideologues to curtail freedom of speech and restrict conservative voices.
Twitter allows my campaign and me to have a voice. Thank you @elonmusk.
— Robert F. Kennedy Jr (@RobertKennedyJr) June 2, 2023
To silence a major political candidate is profoundly undemocratic. Social media is the modern equivalent of the town square. How can democracy function if only some candidates have access to it?
— Robert F. Kennedy Jr (@RobertKennedyJr) June 2, 2023
Would you like to do a Spaces discussion with me next week?
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) June 2, 2023
Honored to welcome US Presidential candidate @RobertKennedyJr to the 1st Presidential Town Hall on Twitter Spaces ever. Join me, @brockpierson and @jen_k_usa next week for this historic event.
Thank you @elonmusk for providing this access for US voters to become better informed. pic.twitter.com/gpz9TQzvdR
— Chet Long (@RealChetBLong) June 2, 2023
The United States is supposed to be a champion of freedom in the world. My administration will restore that role. We will end the censorship-industrial complex.
— Robert F. Kennedy Jr (@RobertKennedyJr) May 30, 2023
Censorship of this magnitude is not just a threat to democracy, but a direct attack on the foundational principles upon which our nation was built. Our country was founded on the principles of free speech, and according to RFK Jr, the United States should be the “champion of freedom in the world”. This pervasive censorship cannot continue, and RFK Jr has vowed to bring it to a halt in the U.S through his administration if elected. The Democratic party would like nothing more than to silence conservative voices, but RFK Jr will not give up without a fight, and he stands firmly on the side of free speech and expression.
