Advertisers Hit Pause on Facebook; Fox Soul cancels Farrakhan broadcast; SCOTUS rules for religious schools in state funding case

July 2, 2020

THE WEEK’S BIG 3

More than 750 companies and brands, from Target and Starbucks to Acura and Verizon, have vowed to pause advertising on Facebook in a growing protest over how it handles hate speech and other harmful content. The Fox Soul network abruptly canceled a Fourth of July program featuring notorious anti-Semite Louis Farrakhan on Monday after ADL voiced outrage over plans for a scheduled live broadcast of Farrakhan’s speech titled “Message to America.” In a setback for church-state separation, the Supreme Court on Tuesday ruled that states must allow religious schools to participate in programs that provide scholarships to students attending private schools.

Read on for more on these headlines, news you can use to fight hate and the latest info about ADL from around the country.

1) Over 750 Advertisers Hit Pause on Facebook as Part of Growing Campaign

“The campaign takes aim at Facebook's advertising juggernaut, which accounted for more than 98% of the company's nearly $70 billion in revenue last year. The stated goal: ‘to force [CEO] Mark Zuckerberg to address the effect that Facebook has had on our society.’” NPR: READ MORE

+ What is “Stop Hate for Profit”?

+ Facebook under new pressure to remove false information, hate speech from platform – MSNBC’s Morning Joe, NAACP’s Derrick Johnson interviewed

+ ADL Resource: Facebook Has a Holocaust Denial Problem

2) Fox Soul Cancels Farrakhan Speech After Outrage From ADL

“’Louis Farrakhan, a notorious #antisemite & #homophobe, inexplicably continues to get airtime,’ ADL CEO Jonathan Greenblatt tweeted over a promotional Fox Soul graphic touting the Farrakhan broadcast scheduled for this Saturday.” Daily Beast: FULL STORY

+ Jonathan Greenblatt tweet: Thanks to @FOXSoulTV for listening to @ADL's request. Hate should have no place on broadcast, in print or on social media…

+ ADL Resource: Farrakhan -- In His Own Words

3) Supreme Court Opens Door to State Funding for Religious Schools

“The ruling comes as the supporters of religious liberty, including the Trump administration, have hoped the court's solidified conservative majority would emphasize that the Constitution's Free Exercise clause requires neutrality toward religion. Three low-income mothers had sought to use the funds from a state initiative toward their kids' religious education.” CNN: FULL STORY

+ ADL tweet: Deeply troubled by @SCOTUS #Espinoza decision. By undermining numerous state constitutional #religiousfreedom protections, this opens the door for taxpayer money to fund schools that discriminate on the basis of religion & against the #LGBTQ+ community…

+ READ: Espinoza v. Montana Department of Revenue