Summary After Charlottesville incident Facebook has banned white nationalists Facebook accounts. Photo: AP
(AP) – Social media accounts of a self-proclaimed white nationalist has been removed for his radical views. Facebook has banned the Facebook and Instagram accounts of Christopher Cantwell, who is a white nationalist who attended the rally in Charlottesville, Virginia which ended in a deadly violence. The 36-year-old describes himself as a white nationalist and also stated that he has voted for President Donald Trump.
According to The Associated Press, Facebook’s spokesperson Ruchika Budhraja stated that Facebook has removed the profile pages of Christopher Cantwell as well as a page connected to his podcast. He has a podcast and a blog that promotes his views.
Cantwell was recently featured in a Vice News documentary where he spoke about his beliefs and views; he was seen talking about the rally and its aftermath.
Cantwell during the interview on HBO VICE documentary. Photo: HBO Vice/YouTube
At least eight more pages were removed by the Facebook, which were connected to the white nationalist movement over what Budhraja says were violations on the company’s policies on hate speech and organisations.
Cantwell, of Keene, New Hampshire, is labeled as an extremist by the Southern Poverty Law Center; he was also listed on the recent Charlottesville rally flyers. He’s a former information and technology worker who moved to New Hampshire from New York in 2012.
The white nationalist supporter said that Facebook removed his account in an attempt to silence him for his views. He also stated that his PayPal account has been closed.
In a telephonic interview from an undisclosed location, Cantwell said, “I’m not surprised by almost any of this because the whole thing we are complaining about here is that we are trying to express our views, and everybody is going through extraordinary lengths to make sure we are not heard.”
“Frankly, whatever you think of my views, that is very scary to me,” he said. “Facebook and Instagram is one thing but not being able to participate in the financial system because of your political opinions is something that, you know, people should worry about in America.”
