Multiple media outlets labeled Louis Farrakhan a “far-right leader” when reporting that Facebook and Instagram had banned him and a number of other controversial figures from their platforms.
The New York Times, the Washington Post, Politico, and the Atlantic were among news organizations that used this description of Farrakhan, leader of the Nation of Islam and a virulent anti-Semite who has long been associated with left-wing politics. After receiving almost immediate criticism for the “right-wing” characterization on social media, outlets scrambled their articles.
An article for The Atlantic was originally titled “Instagram and Facebook Ban Far-Right Extremists.” Captured by the Wayback Machine, it stated that “In an effort to contain misinformation and extremism that has increasingly spread across the platform, Instagram has banned several prominent right-wing extremists. Specifically, Instagram and its parent company, Facebook, have banned Alex Jones, Infowars, Milo Yiannopoulos, Paul Joseph Watson, Laura Loomer, Paul Nehlen, and Louis Farrakhan under their policies against dangerous individuals and organizations.”
The opening line was then changed to read: “In an effort to contain misinformation and extremism that have spread across the platform, Instagram and its parent company, Facebook, have banned several prominent right-wing extremists including Alex Jones, Infowars, Milo Yiannopoulos, Paul Joseph Watson, Laura Loomer, and Paul Nehlen under their policies against dangerous individuals and organizations. They also banned Nation of Islam leader Louis Farrakhan, who has repeatedly made anti-semitic statements.”
[ Related: Exclusive: Nation of Islam receiving federal cash to teach prisoners]
An article in the Washington Post was originally titled “Facebook bans far-right leaders including Louis Farrakhan, Alex Jones, Milo Yiannopoulos for being dangerous.” Also captured in a web archive, the piece originally stated that “Facebook said on Thursday it has permanently banned several far-right figures and organizations including Nation of Islam leader Louis Farrakhan, Infowars host Alex Jones, Milo Yiannopoulos, and Laura Loomer, for being ‘dangerous’.”
The title was then switched out the words “far-right” with “extremist”, and now reads: “Facebook bans extremist leaders including Louis Farrakhan, Alex Jones, Milo Yiannopoulos for being ‘dangerous.'” The Washington Post also sent out a push-alert, beginning with the word “CORRECTION.”
Critics had been quick to respond.
“Far-right extremist Louis Farrakhan” is a bold way to describe a liberal anti-Semite.
Is bold the right word? pic.twitter.com/bBPkQXWMcY
— Jake Wilkins (@JakeWilkns)
May 2, 2019
Farrakhan has a long-time association with the Left and the Democratic Party. At least two prominent leaders of the Women’s March, Tamika Mallory and Linda Sarsour, have praised Farrakhan. Rep. James Clyburn, D-S.C., had shared a stage with Farrakhan in 2011.
[ Also read: Women’s March president defends her praise of Louis Farrakhan]
Rep. Barbara Lee, D-Calif., and Rep. Maxine Waters, D-Calif., attended Farrakhan’s meetings. Now-Attorney General of Minnesota, Keith Ellison, was a former member of the Nation of Islam who attended Farrakhan meetings while in Congress. The Congressional Black Caucus has met with Farrakhan. Then-Sen. Barack Obama had a picture taken with Farrakhan in 2005. And Farrakhan shared a stage with former President Bill Clinton during Aretha Franklin’s funeral last year.
Farrakhan also has a lengthy history of anti-Semitism. He compared Jewish people to termites in a 2018 tweet, saying, “I’m not an anti-Semite. I’m anti-Termite.”
Twitter has not banned Farrakhan from its platform, but it did previously remove his blue check mark.
Source Article from https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/media-outlets-label-louis-farrakhan-a-far-right-leader
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