There is a new controversy at GoFundMe which has been repeatedly criticized for yielding to campaigns to cancel conservative causes on the fundraising site. This controversy involved the decision to deactivate the fundraising ability of Parents Against Critical Theory, a group opposing the teaching of critical race theory in Loudoun County Public Schools. Loudoun county school employees supported a campaign to cancel the fundraiser and GoFundMe quickly informed the group that it had violated the site’s policies. However, there is no explanation of the specific violations that I could find. There may well be valid grounds for such termination but the failure to be clear and transparent on those grounds is deeply concerning from a free speech perspective.
Loudoun county has become the center of an intense debate over anti-racist programs. In June, the Loudoun County Public Schools adopted a “Culturally Responsive Framework” to dismantle “white supremacy, systemic racism, and hateful language and actions based on race, religion, country of origin, gender identity, sexual orientation, and/or ability.”
Then in September Superintendent Scott Ziegler drew criticism for a proposal that would bar teachers from speaking out against the district’s new framework, according to a draft of that policy. The draft contains a deeply troubling provision that would curtail free speech rights of teachers speaking outside of school:
“Employees are expected to support the school division’s commitment to action-oriented equity practices through the performance of their job duties, as the Division engages in the disruption and dismantling of white supremacy, systemic racism, and language and actions motivated by race, religion, country of origin, gender identity, sexual orientation, and/or ability. Behavior that will not be tolerated includes but is not limited to:
…
Any comments or actions that are not in alignment with the school division’s commitment to action-oriented equity practices, and which impact an individual’s ability to perform their job responsibilities or create a breach in the trust bestowed upon them as an employee of the school division. This includes on-campus and off-campus speech, social media posts, and any other telephonic or electronic communication.“
[Bold emphasis added]
Notably, this includes even telephone conversations off-campus as well as social media. Critical race theory remains a controversy across the country that is the subject of considerable debate on social media as well as political campaigns.
Adding to this tension is a recent video being circulated by parents on a session from the Loudoun county where a teacher confronts a facilitator on the meaning of a picture:
That context has left tensions high in the county, which contributed to the angry response to the campaign to shutdown the fundraising ability for this site. I am unfamiliar with the affected page, which was created by an individual named Scott Mineo. He is connected with Parents Against Critical Theory (PACT) which used the page to raise funds to oppose the new policies. I am frankly unfamiliar with PACT but the coverage in conservative media sites state that GoFundMe has declined to explain the basis for the action. It simply has a statement that it can remove any user posts that it deems “in its sole discretion to be unacceptable,” according to its user guidelines.
There is an obvious concern over private censorship, particularly in the absence of transparency on the basis for such a termination. As noted recently by Sen. Bernie Sanders, there are growing free speech concerns raised by private censorship of these corporations.
As stated recently in testimony before the House, I remain an unabashed “Internet Originalist,” favoring the free forum for speech that once defined these Big Tech companies. The expanding censorship of the Internet continues to show bias and contractions as Democratic members push for “robust modification” to silence opposing views of everything from climate change to social justice.
I have no idea of the merits of the latest dispute and that is precisely the problem. If GoFundMe is going to shutdown political campaigns, it should at least shoulder the burden of explaining to the campaign or page how it violated the guidelines. Otherwise, the sense of utter impunity in censoring pages only magnifies concerns for the future of free speech on the Internet.
I sent an inquiry to GoFundMe to seek an explanation of the basis for this action or why such a basis was reportedly not given to the affected group. I have not received an answer but will update this posting if I hear back from the company.
Must read to understand how corrupt and slanted the “fake new media” are….
https://thefederalist.com/2021/03/31/its-important-to-be-honest-about-what-todays-media-actually-are/
GOFUNDME is another corrupt California techno-geek tyrant outfit that needs re-education, and rectification.
They are like the Titan Argus with a thousand eyes. But it’s all just one monster at the root of it. Sal Sar
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GoFundMe
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Argus_Panoptes
The ugly Fascist side of the Democrat Party rears its ugly head again. They will deplatform, demonetize, censor, cancel, try to financially ruin, and even interfere with fundraisers for political dissenters.
Critical Race Theory is racist. I oppose CRT as I would any other racist endeavor, regardless of how popular it is.
Parents are all reporting similar experiences. Their children used to play with whomever, and considered skin color in the same category as hair and eye color. CRT and similar race education has trained them to judge other children by their skin color. Blacks are oppressed and whites are oppressors. White children now are concerned to play with black children, who show hostility due to what CRT has taught them. White children are taught they are born bad. It didn’t matter if their parents worked hard, waited to have kids until they were married, or were responsible. Everything they earned was stolen.
This has divided children in schools. It is one of the most shameful acts the Democrat Party has ever committed since they created Jim Crow.
It seems they are still at it, racially dividing America. It’s disgusting.
Stop pretending this garbage is good and kind and fight for it to be removed from schools and workplace training. There should be no place for racist ideology like CRT.
Did they give the money back or did they do Poke A Haunt Us or a Lizzie Borden Warren and just keep what they stole?
Because everyone has been accused of being racist, or will be, I don’t believe anyone is no longer racist.
I am very familiar with this situation, as my son attends a LCPS school. I fully expected this to happen, as GFM has a documented history of shutting down campaigns that are not liked by the wokesters. Fortunately PACT is able to use GiveSendGo, a principled crowd funding site. https://www.givesendgo.com/stopcrt
Gofundme, Patreon – these are no different than any other problematic institution at this point, Professor. The thing people didn’t do over the past 15 years or so was educate themselves about technology and Silicon Valley writ large, because to them a computer or a phone is just a point of access to the internet, and that’s how this all happened. Take a second to blame your own shallowness, then let’s move on to course correction. This has been going on for nigh on 25 years at this point. Don’t blame anyone else for the fact that you have not been paying attention. None of this should rightly be a shock to anyone. I guess cheeseburgers and easy access to ‘stuff’ on Amazon have just been more important to the average Joe. Kicked Google to the curb personally way back in 2008 when I began to literally see their unauthorized by anybody cameras filming my house. Took all I had to not go out and smash that little stick sticking out of the car with a baseball bat. As this is a legal blog, I was certain they had better lawyers, and mind you, I was three states away from Google HQ. You all that are just now going, ‘Wait, what?!!’, have been asleep for a very long time. It still isn’t too late, but the time to act is NOW.
Pure Tyrannical Persecution
I want to believe that the totalitarian social justice warriors haven’t already won the battle of the minds in the United States and that our society and culture isn’t doomed in the “near” future to tyrannical totalitarian rule and the rights granted in the Constitution will only apply to the totalitarians but these stories are piling up, on upon another, verifying what is an obvious trend – at least it’s obvious to me.
Prophetic words…
Take “comfort” in knowing up front that they will eventually come for you, no one is immune to their tyranny and persecution.
You’ve been warned.
I think more appropriate for our day is this:
First they came for Huck Finn and Jim, but I was not on a raft in the Mississippi, so I said nothing. Then they came for the Ingalls family on the prairie, but that was not my family so I said nothing. Then they came for Thomas the Tank Train, but I was not a train, so I said nothing. Then they came for the Muppets, but I was not a Muppet, so I said nothing. Then they came for the Sneetches, but I was not a Sneetch, so I said nothing. . .
Dr. Turley – It is time to stop the equivocating with such statements as “There may well be valid grounds for such termination”. You know that this was targeted discrimination against a group that supports America, and anyone supporting American is hated by Democrats, liberals, progressives, and the left . We all know there were no valid grounds … just a fear of the rabidity of the Left. The Left and Democrats are comrades in spirit of Mao’s Red Guard. And have caused just as much damage to the US.
I find no fault with the manner in which Professor Turley characterized the situation. I just appreciate the fact that he takes the time to bring these important matters to our attention on a daily basis. If any readers of the blog have ideas about how we can effectively stop these efforts to indoctrinate our students, I would be most appreciative.
In case you thought this will get better soon, the state of California Department of Education has approved guidelines for an Ethnic Studies curriculum that will be a graduation requirement. Like the weather, expect this to be in your state soon.
“Today we made an important step toward confronting and ultimately transforming racism in our society and in our state,” said State Board President Dr. Linda Darling-Hammond. “This day has been a long time in coming, and we are reminded daily that the racial injustice it reveals is not only a legacy of the past but a clear and present danger.
“Seventy years ago, in the height of the McCarthy era, W.E.B. DuBois wrote: ‘Of all the civil rights for which the world has struggled and fought for 5,000 years, the right to learn is undoubtedly the most fundamental,’” Dr. Darling-Hammond continued. “‘The freedom to learn…has been bought by bitter sacrifice. And whatever we may think of the curtailment of other civil rights, we should fight to the last ditch to keep open the right to learn.’ That is what this conversation is about: How we ensure the right to learn for all of our children.”…
Monterey County Supervisor Luis Alejo, who wrote the 2016 legislation directing development of the model when he was in the California Assembly, noted that he first introduced an ethnic studies K–12 bill 19 years ago. “Finally, there is movement across our nation. Our students need and deserve an education that more truthfully reflects the contributions of people of color,” he told the Board. “Our students must see themselves in what they learn.”
Because there are a growing number of schools offering ethnic studies—some of California’s largest school districts require it for graduation—$5 million is included in the January budget proposal specifically for high-quality ethnic studies professional development.
“The ethnic studies model curriculum is a starting point,” Ms. Korematsu said. “It’s not an endpoint. This is a pivotal moment in California’s educational history. The fight for justice and human rights begins with education, and begins now.”
https://www.cde.ca.gov/nr/ne/yr21/yr211rel21.asp
Thanks for the clip, Prof, it’s pretty much exactly what we thought was going on, a retrograde program to drag us backwards on the subject of race. Ugh, the re-education camps.
I doubt that GoFundMe was ever a “free forum for speech.”
If GoFundMe doesn’t let you use it to support your cause, use another platform, or start your own platform, or raise money the old-fashioned ways (mail and phone).
@anonymous
I can’t tell if you are a member of the so-called love and tolerance crowd or a mainstream “conservative” (i.e. national review or heritage foundation) type who conserves nothing.
if the former, I am quite sure you will draw the line at the future adoption of “hate speech” laws and if the latter, you’ll support whatever leftists propose 10 years after the fact.
antonio
Wrong answer. Stupid answer. It holds itself out to be a funding site, not a political activist site. GoFundMe is committing fraud.
@William_JD
Go Fund Me is showing its political bona fides; it too is member in good standing of “woke” capital.
I find it ironic when leftists suddenly claim to have some special affection for free markets; mainstream conservatives are clueless and conserve nothing.
antonio
Here in Texas, I could Use the DTPA against GoFundMe. I just need a plaintiff.
Good luck using the DTPA for something clearly spelled out in the TOS.
It is not spelled out,. The TOS do not say: “Left-wing causes only”.
And the terms of service do not nullify prior representations.
Whether you can bring yourself to admit it or not, William, they have a TOS –
https://www.gofundme.com/terms
Users agree to it in order to use their application.
Your reply is the one that’s a “Wrong answer. Stupid answer.” They are not committing fraud. Maybe you’ve simply never bothered to read the TOS.
the terms of service contain nothing relevant. They are committing fraud (fraudulent concealment).
“I doubt that GoFundMe was ever a “free forum for speech.””
Right, it’s actually a forum used by the Left and the Establishment to launder pay-off money for their dupes. That and multi-million dollar book “deals” and “advances.”
Additional information. The School District, individual teachers, County officials and activists are on record with plans to doxx, hack and otherwise punish the parents who oppose CRT for their kids.
“President” Joe Biden:
Fake Election
Fake Inauguration
Fake Press Conference
America is looking more and more like a communist country.
@realcandaceo
Modern racist policies need to hide in the shadows just like past racist policies.
And … the “real” racists are those who promote the racist “critical race theory,” who oppose and target any efforts (not just fundraising) that aren’t 100% in agreement with the “real” racists views, who enact legislation promoting racism by teaching fake/false opinions about history and the present as if the opinions are fact – and require students to regurgitate those opinions.
Democrat-run corporations are cracking down on free-thinking patriots. We can’t even watch sports anymore.
Imagine the outcry if General Dynamics, Lockheed, and Raytheon told Democrats they couldn’t have access to their products and services. Now you know why the Democrats are trying to purge the military.
And “defund the police” is not about getting rid of the police. It’s about making sure patriots live in fear of the police.
Keep it up, lefties. The reservation you’re building for us might be occupied by you.
Let’s just dispense with this gradual moving of the Overton Window and arrest these bigots for hate speech. And while we are at it, let’s strip anyone holding such heretical views of any professional license held and remove their kids for re-education. It’s coming soon to a locale near you. I dare any of our superior, moral leftist friends to tell me with a straight face they wouldn’t support this when they have pushed speech codes, doxxing and deplatforming all along.
I am sure having European style “hate speech” laws will do wonders for social capital and overcoming the current Balkanization in the United States.
Hate to tell you smug morally superior lefties that after doxxing and deplatforming, these people don’t go away or change their opinions. You just confirm that America is no longer their country.
What could possibly go wrong?
antonio
Bullies, censors, petty tyrants (imagine if they get real power).
It might be legal, but it isn’t right.
Everyone needs to speak up (even the Lefties on the blog – they will come for you next).
Small indicators of coming events unless we stop these attacks now.
here is a string of words that all white people should be taking close notice with. Because you always see them strung together, and I’m going to tell you what it’s leading up to. “ white supremacy, systemic racism, and hateful language.” it wasn’t very long ago that we didn’t see any of this no more than two or three years ago. But look how fast it’s come on…. Just look how fast. Here’s what is coming next for all of us white people.
Very soon anytime we take objection with absolutely anything that the far left crowd considers important, and I don’t care what it is or what it pertains to. And I mean it with all my heart I don’t care what the situation is or what it pertains to. All of a sudden they could take an interest in Idaho potatoes versus potatoes grown in Northern Maine and yes that area is big time, “Tater Country.”
They are out just shut down the speech out of white people, “Completely.” I do mean, “TOTALLY & COMPLETELY”.
They are going to label all of us racist no matter what it pertains to. No matter the situation. It could pertain to, like I said, to “potatoes” . Since a majority of white folks say the word, “Tater” and many times we do in a joking manner. They’re going to label that racist. Don’t believe me? Look what they’ve labeled racist so far. Dr. Seuss, Peter Pan, etc etc. And the reality is this.
They don’t give a damn what is really racist or not. None of this is about real racism. It is about, Controlling all of us white folks. What we say, what we do. I mean it. This is exactly what it’s about. They feel completely empowered because they see how white people back down on everything.
Well, the majority do, and that, That is what counts. They’re not worried about individuals like me or my wife that will not back down on anything. They’re not worried about other individuals like us. Because we’re just few and far between. They’re worried about the majority and the majority are chickenshit scared. They’re worried about them getting some guts about them.
““ white supremacy, systemic racism, and hateful language.” it wasn’t very long ago that we didn’t see any of this no more than two or three years ago.”
The term “institutional racism” has been around for over 50 years, and I expect that the synonyms (like systemic racism, structural racism) have been around about as long.
White supremacy and hateful language have been around since before the existence of the United States.
“They are going to label all of us racist no matter what it pertains to.”
Don’t be silly.
“None of this is about real racism.”
Sure it is.
“They are going to label all of us racist no matter what it pertains to.”
You bet they will. And they do so because it works – not meant to enlighten or persuade but to shut up one’s opponents. The word racist did not even exist in the English Language until invented by Leon Trotsky in his book, History of the Russian Revolution. The word was initially used to refer to the Whites and their worldview in the Russian Civil War.
Racist means everything and nothing at the same time. And since being referred to as one is the equivalent of medieval heresy, people understandably wish to avoid the designation but because the definitions are ever changing, it is also a no win situation. What might be acceptable today might be “racist” tomorrow. And wow to those who complied with yesterday’s standards but run afoul of today’s.
The Church of Anti-Racism along with its parent organization the Church of Wokeness is a church with no salvation.
The power of the word “racist”, along with the other used wokeness slurs will have absolutely no power when people realize they are doomed no matter what they express.
antonio
“You bet they will.”
No, Antonio, I’m a member of that “they” and I know that I won’t.
FWIW, the word “racism” first appears in English in 1928, preceding the publication of Trotsky’s History of the Russian Revolution in 1930. Related terms arose much earlier –
https://www.etymonline.com/word/racist
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/43696339-on-resistance-to-evil-by-force
Read Ilyin. He was a White. The main thing the Russian Whites did wrong, was lose the war.
Anonymous:
Do you deny that people are called racist that do not, actually, have a biased view on any race?
If you criticized Obama’s policies, or Obamacare, you were racist. If you criticized the anti-cop and pro-crime aspect of BLM, you were racist. If you said looters and rioters should go to jail, you were racist. If you opposed the racist Critical Race Theory, ironically, you were racist. If you voted for Trump because you objected to the Fascism and higher taxes of the Left, you were racist. If you objected to Maxine Waters telling supporters to make a crowd to harass Trump administration members, you were racist. If you criticized Kamala Harris, you were racist. If you oppose Reparations, you were racist. If you voted Republican in any local, state, or federal election in your lifetime, you were racist. If you lived in the South, you were racist. If you didn’t want statues pulled down in parks and smashed to pieces in a manner that would make ISIS proud, you were racist. If you oppose illegal immigrant and only want legal immigration, you were racist, even though most legal immigrants are minorities. If you supported Blue Lives Matter, you were racist.
The list is exhausting. It just goes on and on and on. Disagree with Democrats, and they will call you a racist. It’s a slur to shut you up.
When everyone is racist, the word has no meaning.
Karen,
Some people call others racist without good reason. Others do not.
I think looters and rioters should go to jail. No one has ever called me racist for saying that.
I have never called anyone racist because of the set of things you listed. I have called people racist for other views they’ve expressed. For example, George who comments here a lot is racist and sexist, and I’ve said so previously. Do you agree with me that he’s racist and sexist? (For example, he’s argued over and over that African Americans should be ejected from the US and sent to Africa and that women shouldn’t have the right to vote.)
“Disagree with Democrats, and they will call you a racist”
I’m a Democrat. I don’t call people racist for disagreeing with me. Your overgeneralizations are counterproductive. I suggest that you avoid them.
Always a seemingly reasonable voice pops up, and says, no Madam, I did not say you are a heretic, but do you adhere to the truth faith or not?
@anonymous
If true, you are a rare bird indeed! If other lefties were thought similarly doxxing, deplatforming and cancel culture wouldn’t exist. Just because you may not engage in such name calling, it doesn’t mean what Karen S says above is not true. Lefties love to classify anyone who disagrees as a racist.
My guess is that you will classify my characterization above and Karen S’ as an exaggeration and not really happening to any extent. Lefties never punch left no matter what their “comrades” do. That is why the St. George Floyd protests were mostly peaceful despite causing 2 billion in damages in the summer of 2020 or classifying the Brave Masked Wonderful Warriors of Antifa ™ as merely an idea.
Other than pointing out leftist hypocrisy, I am not trying to convince anyone of my position. I’m tired of leftist shenanigans and simply want an amicable divorce. If we are bad as leftists claim, they should be glad to be rid of us. Not my country anymore, I just live here.
antonio
Antonio – you have hit the nail on the head. I get very frustrated that I have never been able to get any Democrat I know to admit that there are any problems in the Democrat Party, whether it’s the anti-cop rhetoric of BLM, the racism of CRT, the rioting and looting, bailing out looters from jail, or any other bad act. I will ask them to give me a reason why illegal immigration should be allowed, rather than requiring everyone to go through the legal system. The best they can come up with is that some illegal immigrants are fantastic people. Agreed, but that’s not a reason why they should have immigrated illegally instead of legally. Over and over again, I have listed all the times Democrats accused Republicans of doing what Democrats were guilty of. They have no response and simply change the subject.
I don’t get it. We have all heard criticism against Trumps and Republicans. We research the accusations or policies, come up with a response, and can respond with why we have that opinion. I don’t see that from most Democrats. It seems more like willful blindness and brainwashing. Oh, and the ever present ad hominem.
Anonymous – I can’t tell you how happy I am to hear that you don’t ascribe to the trend sweeping Democrats across the country, to call everyone who disagrees with them a racist. That’s great if you don’t do this. You are an outlier. But have you noticed how common it is for Democrats to call everyone racist who disagrees? I provided examples that should ring a bell to you.
Yep, George has made racist or sexist comments before, and that was wrong. I always hope that someone can grow and change. Regardless, I support everyone’s right to free speech even when I vehemently disagree with their position.
Overgeneralizing? No. I am commenting on a well documented trend. You may want to read some of Turley’s blog posts regarding the harassment and persecution of conservative students and faculty on college campuses across America. There have also been myriad blog posts, on this very site, about the misapplication of “racist’. What is very sad is that over the past 8 or 9 years, I have observed Democrat friends and family whom I considered kind, moderate people, suffer from political poisoning to the point that they turned on Republican friends and family in the most heinous way.
Since you post as Anonymous, I have no idea if you are a longtime regular choosing to avoid being recognized, or someone who who just started posting this year. If you pick an avatar, any identifiable avatar, then people can carry on a conversation with someone that lasts longer than one post.