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FBI warns of plans for nationwide armed protests next week; ADL calls on Department of Justice to investigate social media platform Gab over Capitol riots; Parler booted by Amazon, Apple and Google

ADL Headlines newsletter

January 15, 2021

THE WEEK’S BIG 3

The FBI is warning of plans for armed protests at all 50 state capitals and in Washington, D.C., in the days leading up to President-elect Joe Biden’s inauguration, stoking fears of more violence after last week’s deadly siege at the U.S. Capitol. ADL is calling for the Department of Justice and the FBI to investigate Gab, a conservative social media company, and its CEO over allegations that they may have "intentionally aided, conspired with or directed" rioters who attacked the U.S. Capitol. Parler, the alternative social media platform favored by conservatives, now finds itself virtually homeless on the internet as Amazon, Apple and Google have all booted it from their platforms in a span of a little more than 24 hours.

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) FBI Warns of Plans for Nationwide Armed Protests Next Week

“An internal FBI bulletin warned, as of Sunday, that the nationwide protests may start later this week and extend through Biden’s Jan. 20 inauguration, according to two law enforcement officials who read details of the memo to The Associated Press. Investigators believe some of the people are members of extremist groups, the officials said.” Associated Press: READ MORE

+ ADL Resource: Furious Extremists Call for More Violence Around Inauguration Day

+ WATCH: Extremists intensify calls for violence ahead of Inauguration Day – Jonathan Greenblatt on CNN

+ ADL Resource: Extremism and Political Violence in America -- Current Landscape, Future Outlook

2) ADL Calls on Department of Justice to Investigate Social Media Platform Gab Over Capitol Riots

 “The Anti-Defamation League released an open letter Wednesday morning calling for authorities to probe Gab and its CEO, Andrew Torba, saying they ‘may well bear a measure of criminal responsibility for the attack.’ The move comes amid growing pressure on social media outlets that serve as a petri dish for hate and violence.” USA Today: LEARN MORE

+ READ the open letter from ADL to DOJ re: Gab

+ ADL Resource: Gab and 8chan -- Home to Terrorist Plots Hiding in Plain Sight

3) Parler Booted by Amazon, Apple and Google

“The decision, which went into force on Sunday at 11:59 p.m. Pacific time, will shut down Parler's website and app until it can find a new hosting provider. In a letter obtained by CNN Business that was sent to Parler on Saturday, Amazon Web Services said that in recent weeks it has reported 98 examples to Parler of ‘posts that clearly encourage and incite violence.’” CNN: FULL STORY

+ Jonathan Greenblatt tweet: Thank you @SquawkCNBC for having me on this AM. Always good to talk with @JoeSquawk on the need for social media companies to prevent hate and incitement on their platforms…

+ ADL Resource: Parler Users Prepare for Site Shutdown with Conspiracy Theories, Threats

+ READ: Conspiracy theories collide online as Parler goes dark -- CNET

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