Activist Fired After Smear Campaign
Donation protected
TL;DR -- In mid-September, an alt-right group began a smear campaign targeting me and other DSA members who organize for social justice. In less than a week, I was fired with no investigation. My face has been splashed across Fox News and alt-right media, I have faced death threats, doxxing, and racist attacks. I’m asking your help paying rent, living expenses, and potential legal fees as I seek to recover from this setback.
ABOUT ME – As a DSA member, I have worked for nearly two years to build our organization and defend local communities from intolerance and hatred. As an active member of my local union, I worked hard to promote labor solidarity. In an era where everything in the news illustrates more hate, more greed, more alienation, and more oppression, I don't regret any of the work I’ve done to try and make the world a better place for working people and people of color. I'm proud to be a part of that struggle.
When the alt-right group’s campaign went live, I immediately started receiving death threats and targeted abuse from all over the Internet. Anonymous commenters assigned me racist nicknames and called in threats to my work phone. My employer immediately put me on administrative leave and released a public statement about me. News quickly spread that the alt-right hatemongers had claimed a “scalp.”
Just three business days later, I received a termination letter in the mail. No investigation or independent evidence was cited. I was always rated as an exceptional employee for the quality of my work. I stand behind every piece of work I did. However, since I was a low-level probationary employee, I didn’t have much power to contest the termination. I’m actively seeking new employment, but the abrupt termination has obviously left me with serious financial constraints going forward.
The alt-right is seeking to intimidate and bankrupt people who believe in racial, social and economic justice. Any donations will help me get by while I look for a new job. If I get a new job sooner than expected, any extra funds will be donated to Metro DC DSA and/or other social justice causes.
Thank you so much for your consideration and I look forward to fighting alongside you as we continue pushing for greater environmental protections, economic justice and equal rights for all.
In solidarity,
NS
ABOUT ME – As a DSA member, I have worked for nearly two years to build our organization and defend local communities from intolerance and hatred. As an active member of my local union, I worked hard to promote labor solidarity. In an era where everything in the news illustrates more hate, more greed, more alienation, and more oppression, I don't regret any of the work I’ve done to try and make the world a better place for working people and people of color. I'm proud to be a part of that struggle.
When the alt-right group’s campaign went live, I immediately started receiving death threats and targeted abuse from all over the Internet. Anonymous commenters assigned me racist nicknames and called in threats to my work phone. My employer immediately put me on administrative leave and released a public statement about me. News quickly spread that the alt-right hatemongers had claimed a “scalp.”
Just three business days later, I received a termination letter in the mail. No investigation or independent evidence was cited. I was always rated as an exceptional employee for the quality of my work. I stand behind every piece of work I did. However, since I was a low-level probationary employee, I didn’t have much power to contest the termination. I’m actively seeking new employment, but the abrupt termination has obviously left me with serious financial constraints going forward.
The alt-right is seeking to intimidate and bankrupt people who believe in racial, social and economic justice. Any donations will help me get by while I look for a new job. If I get a new job sooner than expected, any extra funds will be donated to Metro DC DSA and/or other social justice causes.
Thank you so much for your consideration and I look forward to fighting alongside you as we continue pushing for greater environmental protections, economic justice and equal rights for all.
In solidarity,
NS
Organizer
nat steele
Organizer
Washington D.C., DC