FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

January 6, 2023 

CONTACT

media@colorofchange.org 

JUSTICE FOR JANUARY 6 INSURRECTION INCLUDES HOLDING TECH COMPANIES ACCOUNTABLE  

Rashad Robinson, president of Color Of Change, the nation’s largest online racial justice organization, issued the following statement in response to the second anniversary of January 6, 2021, insurrection on Capitol Hill:

“The January 6 insurrection will forever be associated with Donald Trump, alt-right conspiracy groups, and white supremacists who tried to overturn the 2020 election. But we can never forget the events that transpired that day were a culmination of mis and disinformation spread like wildfire and fueled by tech company platforms that people use every day — including Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube — that radicalized these far-right extremists to storm the Capitol, put innocent lives at risk, and further threatened our democracy. As we continue to hold people accountable for this tragedy, we must do the same for tech companies who are also culpable. 

“Two years after January 6, tech companies remain unregulated entities that consistently put people in harm’s way while our tech laws still fail the American public. Color Of Change and other civil rights groups continue to repeatedly and urgently warn companies about the perils of white supremacists and racist militias who use social media to organize, recruit, and fundraise. Without regulation, tech platforms will continue prioritizing growth and profit over safety, integrity, and security. And without government intervention, they are on pace to repeat history and put even more lives in danger.

“The DOJ’s continued criminal investigation into Trump’s involvement in the insurrection is an important first step. And while the Select Committee Report acknowledges the role of social media in reinforcing false information about the 2020 election, it stops short of calling for true accountability of these tech companies. 

“Without swift action, the integrity of our democracy is further at stake. Color Of Change calls on Congress to pass legislation that aligns with the principles of the Black Tech Agenda, an affirmative vision of technology that protects our civil rights, advances our needs, and prevents future harm. Until then, we will hold these corporate enablers accountable and the lawmakers who fail to do so.”

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Color Of Change is the nation’s largest online racial justice organization. We help people respond effectively to injustice in the world around us. As a national online force driven by over 7 million members, we move decision-makers in corporations and governments to create a more human and less hostile world for Black people in America. Visit www.colorofchange.org