| Dear Friends and Colleagues,
Facebook, Twitter, and other social media platforms are being used to spread the now familiar and thoroughly debunked conspiracy theory that George Soros and the Open Society Foundations are paying people to protest, in this case over the murder of George Floyd. We are appalled by this attempt to delegitimize the genuine outpouring of anger and concern from people in the U.S. and around the world.
The Open Society Foundations issued a statement on Floyd's murder and the false notion that people taking to the streets to express their anguish are paid by Soros or anyone else. The full text is below. Several outlets have also fact checked the misinformation, including the New York Times, Snopes, Politifact, Reuters, AFP, and Vox. We have been in touch with the social media platforms but so far, neither Twitter nor Facebook have taken any meaningful step to address this outrageous situation. Please help us to set the record straight in any interactions you might have and feel free to amplify our statement on social media channels ( Facebook, Twitter). Best Regards, Michael Vachon
Open Society Statement on the Death of George Floyd and the Right to ProtestWe mourn the death of George Floyd and too many other African Americans who have suffered police brutality at the hands of those whose job it is to protect and serve our communities, not murder its members. We find hope in the people across this country coming together to peacefully protest a justice system that throughout our history has failed communities of color. We abhor violence of any kind, and will not allow the destructive acts of a few to distract us from the crucial work of coming together and forging a better future for all of our neighbors. We proudly support organizations that promote civic engagement and champion the right of all Americans to petition their government for redress of grievances. Those protesting the death of Mr. Floyd and police brutality across the nation do so out of a deep and abiding concern for their country; they don't do so for pay from these foundations or any other, as some cynics claim. Such assertions are false, offensive, and do a disservice to the very bedrock of our democracy, as enshrined in the First Amendment. The power of the people to demand accountability and move the country closer to its ideals endures.
***For more information, including essays by George Soros, please visit www.georgesoros.com. |
