Deputy Bristol Mayor quits X over hate speech
Asher Craig says she refuses to be part of any platform that tolerates hatred
One of Bristol's Deputy Mayors has deleted her account on social media site X because of increasing racist abuse.
Taking to what was formerly Twitter for the last time, Asher Craig shared that she is closing her account permanently.
"Racism has no place in our society and I refuse to be part of any platform that tolerates or perpetuates hatred," she said.
"It's time to stand up, speak out and create a world that celebrates diversity and promotes equity.
"#EndRacism, #AccountClosed."
Craig reportedly became the first Rastafarian councillor in Europe, when she was elected to Bristol City Council for the St George West ward, in 2016.
Mayor Marvin Rees named her the council's cabinet member for Children's Services, Education and Equalities in 2021.
She has already revealed she will not be standing for re-election to the council in 2024.
Twitter/X and hate speech
Since US billionaire Elon Musk bought Twitter (now X) for $44 billion in 2022, several studies have been done showing hate speech on the platform has increased.
At the time Musk described himself as a "free speech absolutist" and said, among other things, that he would reverse a permanent ban placed on former US President Donald Trump, who was banished after Twitter bosses deemed he had incited violence by encouraging the 2020 storming of the Capitol in Washington DC.
Immediately after the take over David Kaye, a law professor at the University of California was quoted by the New York Times, saying: "There could be real-world consequences to his leadership."
Various studies have proven that to be true, with one by academics from Montclair State University showing hate speech on Twitter/X "increased immediately" after Musk's take over.
"The seven-day average of Tweets using the studied hate terms prior to Musk’s acquisition was never higher than 84 times per hour," the researchers said.
"However, on October 28 from midnight to noon (immediately following Musk’s acquisition), the studied hate speech was Tweeted some 4,778 times."
So drastic where the changes made by Musk that the UN high commissioner for human rights Volker Turk wrote him an open letter, asking he make human rights a central value at the organisation.
Hits Radio has contacted X for a response, but the site's help centre has a section on hateful content.
"You may not directly attack other people on the basis of race, ethnicity, national origin, caste, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, religious, affiliation, age, disability or serious disease," it says.
"We are committed to combating abuse motivated by hatred, prejudice or intolerance, particularly abuse that seeks to silence the voices of those who have been historically marginalized.
"For this reason, we prohibit behaviour that targets individuals or groups with abuse based on their perceived membership in a protected category."