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Russian actors organized both anti-Islam and pro-Islam protests in the same location at the same time on May 21, 2016, using separate Facebook pages operated from a so-called troll farm in St. Petersburg, the Senate Intelligence Committee disclosed on Wednesday.
A Facebook page named Heart of Texas, whose link to Russia was first reported by Business Insider, organized a rally at noon on May 21 at the Islamic Da'wah Center in Houston to "Stop Islamization of Texas." The account paid to promote the event, which was viewed by about 12,000 people, said the committee's chairman, Sen. Richard Burr.
Another Russia-linked account, United Muslims of America, organized a counterprotest — a "Save Islamic Knowledge" rally.
Burr said that organizing and promoting these protests cost Russia "about $200."
"What neither side could have known was that Russian trolls were encouraging both sides to battle in the streets and create division between real Americans," Burr said on Wednesday during an open hearing with the general counsels of Facebook, Google, and Twitter.
Russia should use its special services within the borders of the United States to fuel instability and separatism, for instance, provoke "Afro-American racists". Russia should "introduce geopolitical disorder into internal American activity, encouraging all kinds of separatism and ethnic, social and racial conflicts, actively supporting all dissident movements – extremist, racist, and sectarian groups, thus destabilizing internal political processes in the U.S. It would also make sense simultaneously to support isolationist tendencies in American politics."
originally posted by: DanteGaland
The SAD part? It only cost Russia maybe $200:
originally posted by: projectvxn
I always want to know who I am standing shoulder to shoulder with.
You will never see me at a protest. For anything.
You will never see me at a political rally.
You never know who is pulling the strings or what their goals are.
originally posted by: DanteGaland
a reply to: Dwoodward85
Does that EXCUSE a foreign government like Russia?
YES/NO
originally posted by: Grambler
This whole idea illustrates a big problem for me that occurs oon both sides.
If someone believes in a cause or issue, it doesnt mean that they should be impugned because others that also believe or spread that cause are shady characters.
In other words, saying David Duke supports trump is not an argument against Trump; saying the orlando night club shooters dad was at a hillary rally is equally irrelevant.
In this case; what are we to do?
If americans feel strongly about Islam or protestors of islam, should we not give them the benefit of self determination because russia pushed both sides?
this is a dangerous path we are going down.
Even as a conservative that dislikes Black Lives matter, I am troubled by the implication that Russian bots are spurring them on.
Mark my words; some a hole republican will soon start decrying all BLM protestors as Russian insurgents.
These facebook ads mean almost nothing to me; they shouldnt be censored, they shouldnt be worried about.
We should all just research an issue ourselves, and who cares if a russian agrees with us on Facebook or is pushing me to attend a rally.
originally posted by: DanteGaland
a reply to: Dwoodward85
Does that EXCUSE a foreign government like Russia?
YES/NO
originally posted by: projectvxn
There's a concerted effort by our enemies to destabilize and divide until we collapse under the weight of our own identity politics and our willingness to be manipulated. To be lead. To be told what is right instead of figuring it out for ourselves.
This story illustrates one thing very clearly:
Our enemies are willing to help us destroy ourselves and we're willing to allow it to happen.