This year’s US presidential elections are in jeopardy—in part because San Francisco Bay Area technology company Facebook refuses to take responsibility for the lies, hate, and disinformation that are being spread using its platform.

Facebook refuses to take down advertisements by US politicians that feature even the most blatant falsehoods. And its efforts to stop the spread of toxic hate and disinformation that have created a climate of fear for immigrants, suppressed voter turnout among African Americans, and threaten the upcoming US census count are too little, too late. In Myanmar and India, Facebook’s failure to recognize its role in facilitating the incitement of hate-fueled violence has meant life and death. In the United States, its callous disregard for its role in facilitating the breakdown of our democratic beliefs, norms, and values is threatening the fabric of our society.

Please join us on January 9th to say enough is enough! Facebook must immediately take down deceptive political advertising and implement policies to prevent the spread of disinformation and hatred on its platform. The US government should also regulate Facebook and other technology platforms to safeguard our democracy.

TAKE ACTION

In-person protest @ Facebook Headquarters
January 9, 4 - 6 PM, 1600 Willow Road, Menlo Park
Check back for more details about logistics, including transportation from SF. For people in other cities and countries with Facebook offices, we hope you’ll also organize your own rallies to hold Facebook accountable for its outsized role in our lives and our futures. For transit information, including a protest bus from San Francisco to San Mateo to Menlo Park, see the logistics section, below.

Online protest
On January 9, "black out" Facebook by covering your Facebook cover photo and profile photo with a completely black box. See FacebookBlackout2020 for more info and instructions on how to replace these photos on your Facebook page.

Endorsed by Media Alliance, Global Exchange, MediaJustice, CODEPINK, Indivisible SF, Indivisible SF Peninsula/CA-14, Indivisible Healdsburg, FacebookBlackout2020.com, Free Press Action, SumOfUs, RYSE, Vigil for Democracy, Coastside United for Action, Courage Campaign, Raging Grannies Action League, Peninsula Peace and Justice Center, and others.

LOGISTICS
The in-person protest will take place across the street from the Facebook headquarters sign at 1600 Willow Road, Menlo Park, CA.

Driving and parking: Facebook is about 40 minutes from San Francisco or the East Bay (check the traffic, though). There is no street parking on Willow Road, but there are large parking lots on the west side of the road around the fast food restaurants and shops.

Bus from San Francisco and San Mateo: A bus to Menlo Park will be leaving San Francisco's Pioneer Monument on Fulton Street, which is near the Civic Center BART station at 3 PM on Thursday. It will stop for another pick up at the Hillsdale Caltrain station in San Mateo. Seats are first come, first served, so sign up now by registering for this event or emailing andreabuffa2006@gmail.com

Public transit: Please use this website for public transit info. If using Caltrain, there is a Willow Road shuttle from the Menlo Park Caltrain station.

For more info or to add your group as an endorser, contact andreabuffa2006@gmail.com.