Airbnb service deleted the accounts of those who booked accommodation near the neo-Nazi rally
On August 12, a rally of the United Right party (Unite the Right) is to take place in Charlottesville (Virginia). Less than a week before the event, the Airbnb service deleted the accounts of some of its users who had booked accommodation near the venue of the rally. Andrew Anglin, the creator of the neo-Nazi website The Daily Stormer, and journalist Jason Kessler will not be able to use the service.
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When registering on Airbnb, you need to confirm your agreement with the rules of the service, which call for treating people equally regardless of their characteristics and views.
When we see behavior that contradicts the platform agreement, we look for a solution to what to do. In this case, we have deactivated user accounts.
Airbnb Statement
The main purpose of the rally in Charlottesville is to oppose the demolition of the monument to General Robert Edward Lee, who fought for the Confederates in the Civil War in the XIX century. The discussion about the monument was started by Vice Mayor Wes Bellamy. Activists consider the demolition an attack on the spirit of the southern states.
After the rally of nationalists in May, the authorities prompted local bars and restaurants not to serve its organizer, journalist Jason Kessler. Activists accused opponents of not recognizing their right to express opposing views. On July 26, an article "Don't let Nazis into Charlottesville Hotels" appeared on the anti-fascist website It's Going Down. Activists called it an attack on freedom of speech, freedom of assembly and civil rights.
Anti-white groups are handing out booklets in downtown #Charlottesville telling business to deny #UniteTheRight attendees service pic.twitter.com/R0wJo17dWz
— Jason Kessler (@TheMadDimension) July 31, 2017
In early August, Airbnb employees studied reservations in Charlottesville for the dates of the rally and deactivated the accounts of those users who presumably would come to the city for the sake of the action. How the service identified these people is not reported. It may have been necessary to check the activists' personal Facebook pages linked to an Airbnb account.
Canceled my account with airbnb pic.twitter.com/CBwhN6lB0s
— Cracker Factory (@EarthBoisRDumb) August 6, 2017
Although the service stipulated the requirements for community members in advance, at least one user decided to delete his account on Airbnb in protest against the company's policy.
Participants of the Unite the Right meeting on Facebook accused a local official of "racism on the contrary" directed against white Americans.
Another entry on the event page: "You think the horror was Baltimore and Ferguson. Wait until 200 million patriots start a revolution!"
In the USA, the meme with Pepe the frog, created as a neutral, in 2016 became associated with the Nazis and caused a discussion. The phrase in the photo refers to the campaign slogan of President Donald Trump — "Make America great again."
One of the future participants of the rally drew a comic poster with the announcement that the official sponsor of the event is Airbnb.
Keywords: Airbnb | Rent | Business | Civil war | Rallies | Nationalists | Service | USA