Press release: Facebook shuts down major left wing group in Britain
For immediate release.
Facebook has shut down the accounts of one of the biggest left wing organisations in Britain, the Socialist Workers Party (SWP) (1). The Socialist Workers Party Facebook page – as well as account of local pages – have been removed from Facebook with no explanation given. Those targeted say it amounts to a silencing of political activists.
Facebook took the action on Friday, shutting down the Socialist Workers Party page and removing dozens of leading SWP activists from the platform.
The SWP Facebook page regularly posts in support of Palestine, Black Lives Matter and against Boris Johnson’s Covid policies. It also hosts dozens of online events every week that activists across the country take part in.
The SWP say they have been silenced for speaking out on these issues and that the action taken by Facebook amounts to an attack on political activists to organise. They are demanding to be reinstated immediately.
This is the second time Facebook has removed SWP accounts. In December, Facebook disabled the accounts of 45 SWP activists but admitted they had done so in ‘error’ and reinstated the majority of those accounts.
Notes:
ENDS
Content warning We were made aware of the arrest of Simon Murch for the rape of a child. We immediately expelled him from the Socialist Workers Party. He is not a member. We are appalled by Simon Murch’s actions. Socialist Workers Party Central Committee, 6 September 2023
Russian troops out, No to Nato escalation
Trans people are facing a barrage of attacks. The Socialist Workers Party (SWP) stands with the oppressed and unequivocally says, “Trans women are women,” and, “Trans men are men.” Trans people have the right to organise against their oppression and the right to protest against it. We stood in solidarity with the trans students and...
