Author and self-proclaimed civil rights activist Shaun King claimed Monday that Elon Musk’s purchase of Twitter is not about free speech but rather “white power.”
“At its root, @ElonMusk wanting to purchase Twitter is not about left vs. right. It’s about white power. The man was raised in Apartheid by a white nationalist. He’s upset that Twitter won’t allow white nationalists to target/harass people. That’s his definition of free speech,” King wrote on Twitter.
At its root, @ElonMusk wanting to purchase Twitter is not about left vs right.
It’s about white power.
The man was raised in Apartheid by a white nationalist.
He’s upset that Twitter won’t allow white nationalists to target/harass people. That’s his definition of free speech.
— Shaun King (@shaunking) April 25, 2022
King added that Musk “has openly called himself a ‘free speech absolutist’ and said that he wants to create a space where anything can be said about anyone. That’s why white nationalists are giddy today. Here on Twitter and other platforms that I track daily. It’s dangerous.”
Elon Musk has openly called himself a “free speech absolutist” and said that he wants to create a space where anything can be said about anyone.
That’s why white nationalists are giddy today. Here on Twitter and other platforms that I track daily.
It’s dangerous.
— Shaun King (@shaunking) April 25, 2022
King added it’s not about politics but rather “how the richest man in the world, a son of Apartheid, raised by a white nationalist, wants to be sure his speech, and that of other white men, isn’t censored.” (RELATED: Shaun King’s Tweet Promising To Name Cops Who ‘May Or May Not’ Be Officer Who Shot Jacob Blake Doesn’t Violate Twitter Rules, Spokesman Says)
King has come under fire for spreading disinformation concerning racism that eventually led to a man committing suicide over King’s false accusation.
Robert Paul Cantrell was found dead in 2019 in an apparent suicide after King, in a since-deleted tweet, shared his description out and claimed he was responsible for the shooting death of seven-year-old Jazmine Barnes. King later said more than 20 people told him Cantrell was a racist. Authorities later arrested two black men who they believe were responsible for Barnes’ death.
Twitter announced the sale to Musk on Monday after publicly battling the billionaire about his offer. The transaction is valued at approximately $44 billion, according to a news release.
Musk made the offer after tweeting several times about “free speech” and whether Twitter “rigorously adheres” to the principle of free speech.
“Given that Twitter serves as the de facto public town square, failing to adhere to free speech principles fundamentally undermines democracy,” Musk tweeted. “What should be done?”