Twitter bought a billboard in Minneapolis, Minnesota recently to display a controversial post from Frederick Joseph, a left wing activist.
“Protesters aren’t trying to start a race war— we’re trying to end one,” the massive sign reads. Joseph is an award winning activist whose advertisement agency “provides free support to marginalized storytellers and organizations that can shift cultural bias toward better inclusion,” per Forbes. His post isn’t the only one Twitter has decided to display in riot stricken cities.
The social media company also hoisted a sign that quotes Joshua Kissi, a photographer, in Chicago. “Black Trans Lives Matter, That’s all. That’s the tweet,” it says.
📍 Chicago
🗣️ @JoshuaKissi pic.twitter.com/ZeD3XvJUbX— Twitter (@Twitter) June 19, 2020
A Twitter billboard in New York City quotes a BLM activist whose real full name is unknown. “It’s still BLM. Today, tomorrow, and the day after THAT!” it says.
📍 New York City
🗣️ @Afrikkana95 pic.twitter.com/tEfs27p7xu— Twitter (@Twitter) June 19, 2020
Similar signs that praised the recent activity of BLM also appeared in Atlanta, Louisville, Philadelphia and Oakland.
📍 Oakland
🗣️ @YoliZama pic.twitter.com/lcGDLzAJIn— Twitter (@Twitter) June 19, 2020
Twitter has also changed the profiles, headers and bios of many of its official accounts to reflect its support for the BLM movement.
However, while Joseph and Twitter seem to agree that the protestors in Minneapolis have acted in a positive way, residents of the city may hold a different opinion. Over 1,500 Minneapolis buildings were damaged or destroyed during the recent spate of violence triggered by the death of George Floyd late last month, per the Star Tribune.
Police have also found it difficult to uphold the law as the City Council calls for their abolition and a general climate of hostility towards law enforcement has made it difficult to patrol the streets. Amidst this chaos, there have been over 1,600 reports of gunfire in the city that have left over 110 people shot.
Alpha News is also aware of multiple separate, unverified reports that police are not responding to calls from citizens, particularly in the Uptown neighborhood.
Kyle Hooten
Kyle Hooten is Managing Editor of Alpha News. His coverage of Minneapolis has been featured on television shows like Tucker Carlson Tonight and in print media outlets like the Wall Street Journal.
