This group was formed as a response to the Facebook Censorship of the "Free Ricardo Palmera" group. What happened was, this group, and the 3 founding members, were removed from Facebook, probably because of pressure from the U.S. State Department, or (do I dare say it) the corporations, and so far it has reached over 700 members. This is quite an accomplishment, as the group was formed not long ago. Well, there is both good news and bad news. The good news is that 2 of the members whose accounts were banned, Josh Sykes and Angela Denio, have been reinstated. However, the group's founder, Tom Burke, is still banned, and Facebook is refusing to let him back into the group. This letter, addressed to Tom Burke, and copied from the message from my group to this blog, explains their reasoning.
Hi Tom,
After reviewing your situation, we have determined that you violated our Statement of Rights and Responsibilities. One of Facebook's main priorities is the comfort and safety of our users. We do not tolerate hate speech. Targeting people based on their race, ethnicity, national origin, religion, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, disability, or disease is a serious violation of our standards and has resulted in the permanent loss of your account. We will not be able to reactivate your account for any reason. This decision is final.
Thanks,
Kimmie
User Operations
Facebook
After reviewing your situation, we have determined that you violated our Statement of Rights and Responsibilities. One of Facebook's main priorities is the comfort and safety of our users. We do not tolerate hate speech. Targeting people based on their race, ethnicity, national origin, religion, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, disability, or disease is a serious violation of our standards and has resulted in the permanent loss of your account. We will not be able to reactivate your account for any reason. This decision is final.
Thanks,
Kimmie
User Operations
This is the biggest load of bulls*** I have ever read! Hate speech!? Do they mean the national origin part!? If that's true, than I say they're lying out their a**es! The Free Ricardo Palmera group is not anti-American, nor is it hateful. It is a redress of grievances. Sound familiar? It should, because it is a right guaranteed to us by FIRST AMENDMENT OF THE CONSTITUTION! What Facebook is doing is illegal! They are censoring the protest of the unjust incarceration of Ricardo Palmera, who is fighting for peace in his own home country, and I'm pretty sure our government is breaking some sort of international law stating that a country cannot arrest a citizen of another country that is not under their influence. What the U.S. government is doing to Ricardo Palmera is appalling, and frankly it makes me want to leave Facebook. Better yet, why not create a Facebook alternative, where people where guaranteed freedom of speech. A site that is immune to censorship. I have an idea for the domain name. I would call it "freedombook.net". That's right, not .com, but .net, because it does not promote commercial interests like Facebook does, but it is a network. A network of people that are tired of Facebook censorship and want a place to freely express their views and beliefs. And if someone already has designed a site like that, I might as well quit Facebook and migrate to this site, and when I do, I apologize to all my friends on Facebook if I leave them behind. I will try to let you know where you can find me. It's the least I can do for you guys.
