Antifa rumors spread on local social media with no evidence

[Dennis Donovan]

https://www.nbcnews.com/tech/tech-news/antifa-rumors-spread-local-social-media-no-evidence-n1222486

Some of the posts feature a screenshot of a tweet by a fake antifa Twitter account that Twitter said was created by the white nationalist group Identity Evropa.


Members of the California National Guard stand watch at the Downtown Commons area of Sacramento, Calif., on June 1, 2020.Rich Pedroncelli / AP

June 2, 2020, 4:17 PM EDT

By Brandy Zadrozny and Ben Collins

False rumors about antifa organizing bus rides to take protesters into white neighborhoods and loot residences have gone viral in recent days on digital neighborhood platforms and in group texts throughout the U.S.

Some of the posts feature a screenshot of a tweet by a fake antifa Twitter account that Twitter said was created by the white nationalist group Identity Evropa, attempting to drum up fear of looting in residential and suburban areas. The false antifa tweet was boosted in part by Donald Trump Jr., who posted a screenshot of the tweet to his Instagram account. Other rumors falsely warn of antifa members being "bused in" to towns in Idaho.

The social media rumors about outsiders coming to damage property or commit acts of violence at protests have ripped through local communities over the last week, aided by neighborhood-focused social media networks and groups.

Rumors circulating on Facebook and Nextdoor that buses filled with thousands of antifa and other outside agitators on their way to loot "white neighborhoods" prompted law enforcement to respond to fearful residents in the Sacramento suburbs that they are "monitoring" messages on social media "causing worry and concern."

<snip>

On Tuesday, Facebook added a warning to posts on Facebook and Instagram indicating the fake antifa post was "false information."

By then the post had already gone viral on both platforms, generating hundreds of thousands of interactions.

</snip>

[SWBTATTReg]

1. For a non-existing organization to spin the government (trump's government) into circles, good.

Serves them right for BS about a non existing entity when there are far better things to do in this country, such as dealing w/ the CV, the grievances faced by working men and women all across the country, etc. vs. the constant awarding of lower tax rates yet again, for the wealthier 1% in this country. When will these scumbags realize that an entire segment of the population is still working at minimum wage jobs (which of course not near enough to pay bills, etc.), have no health coverage, etc.?

[spinbaby]

2. I subscribe to a local Facebook group

Rural western Pennsylvania. They’re all busy arming themselves convinced Antifa is coming.

[rockfordfile]

3. Some of these guys are connected to Russia

[oswaldactedalone]

4. Just another right-wing strawman

Has anyone figured out yet that antifa is about 30 people who communicate once a year when their Christmas cards arrive?