As part of its ongoing efforts to crack down on online harassment and hate speech on its platform, Twitter has suspended several accounts associated with the alt-right movement. The movement, which came to national prominence supporting Donald Trump’s successful presidential campaign, is known for espousing white nationalism and Europeanism.
Among the suspended accounts was that of Richard Spencer, a leading alt-right figure, who has called for the removal of blacks, Asians, Hispanics, and Jews from the US, according to USA Today. Spencer also founded the National Policy Institute, a think tank “dedicated to the heritage, identity, and future of people of European descent in the United States, and around the world.”
Angered by the suspension, Spencer lashed out at Twitter in a YouTube video entitled Knight of the Long Knives, apparently likening the move to Hitler’s infamous purge of the Nazi leadership without a hint of irony.
“I am alive physically but digitally speaking there has been execution squads across the alt right,” he said. “There is a great purge going on and they are purging people based on their views.”
Twitter’s community standards prohibit “violent threats, harassment, hateful conduct, and multiple account abuse”, which covers speech that promotes violence against minorities. In recent months, it has attracted criticism for not doing enough to rein in the proliferation of hate speech on its platform.
Trump notably used Twitter to great effect during his campaign to mobilize his supporters, respond to criticism, and spread his message. As Spencer says in the video, “Social media did help elect Trump. This is a clear sign that we have power.”
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