FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE October 19, 2020 Contact info@nbcit.org
Black and Latino Journalists Face Coordinated Online Attacks by the ADOS Movement, National Black Cultural Information Trust Warns
Statement from the NBCI Trust Advisory Board
Washington, DC – October 16, 2020, saw the launch of the National Black Cultural Information Trust (NBCI Trust), a project established to, among other tasks, combat misleading information spread by social media actors who target the African-American community to suppress the African-American vote in the upcoming Presidential election. The NBCI Trust does this by making facts and underlying evidentiary sources available to the general public.
Upon reporting the launch, the Associated Press news service came under a highly coordinated attack (including xenophobic and racial epithets) from various social media accounts and individuals associated with an on-line group that purports to rename African-Americans as “American Descendants of Slavery” (#ADOS). This on-line group uses the just call for reparations as a Trojan horse for an anti-immigration agenda. They also attempt to dissuade African-American voters from participating in the upcoming Presidential election if a presidential candidate doesn’t fulfill ADOS demands. This, of course, is classic voter suppression.
The attacks on journalists covering these issues, employing precisely the type of disinformation that NBCI Trust has organized to expose, was unrelenting and targeted the Associated Press reporter and editors personally. Recently, ADOS followers also leveled attacks against Nikole Hannah-Jones (New York Times Magazine) and Joy Ann Reid (MSNBC), and Don Lemon (CNN). This constant trolling, fanaticism, and harassment from ADOS labeled accounts is not normal behavior and should not be ignored.
A free, unfettered press is an essential component of the democratic process.
In addition, the attacks (including doxxing) targeted social justice activist Jessica Ann Mitchell Aiwuyor, a mother of two young twins, who took the courageous step to found the NBCI Trust.
We, the NBCI Trust’s Advisory Board, condemn these attacks on the free press. We further firmly stand with Mrs. Aiwuyor and the NBCI Trust’s efforts.
Signed,
Kevin Cokley, Ph.D.
Tiffany D. Pogue, Ph.D.
Minister Ari Merretazon
Michael K. Fisher
Dwayne Wong Omowale
Halycon Sealy Westmass
For further information contact info@nbcit.org.