Here is the open letter to the men of Yemen that got me banned for life from Instagram
Reading it now - 2 months later - makes the lifetime ban seem all the more ridiculous.
To the Men of Yemen,
I say this at great risk.
This company (Meta) has just deleted and purged any reference I’ve made to your courage and bravery in standing up for Palestinians.
➡️ PLEASE LISTEN TO ME:
This is all the confirmation in the world that what you are doing IS ACTUALLY WORKING.
The powerful governments and corporations of the world wouldn’t try so hard to erase your actions from public view if they weren’t actually making a huge difference.
But the masses of people of the world see you and are so grateful that you’ve put your lives on the line to hold Israel and the United States accountable for their genocidal war crimes against Palestinians.
Please allow me to remind Meta that the United States Government REMOVED the Houthis of Yemen from the terrorist watch list in 2021 - so this excuse cannot be used for Meta’s rationale to prohibit us from celebrating your actions.
In fact, by stopping commerce heading toward Israel in the Red Sea, you’ve taken one of the single most peaceful options to stop this genocide available to you.
I reject the notion that YOU are the dangerous party in this genocide when you have openly and repeatedly stated that once this genocide ends, you will free the waters back up for easy travels.
Framing those trying to END the murder of over 25,000 Palestinians as the “dangerous” ones is what we call gaslighting. And the world sees through it. The lies of Israel and America are now more obvious for the world to see than ever before.
Furthermore, I reject the notion that YOU are the dangerous party in this endeavor when it has been the United States ALONE that has blocked a binding ceasefire agreement on the UN Security Council.
The actual danger could’ve ended weeks or even months ago had the United States not blocked the will of the ENTIRE WORLD to have an immediate and lasting ceasefire.
Had the United States not blocked the will of the world, the brothers of Yemen wouldn’t even need to stop the ships in the Red Sea right now.
We know you are being squeezed to stop your actions, but I beg you to please continue doing all you can to stop the genocide of Palestinians.
Sincerely…
Your Friend and Brother,
Shaun King
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Shaun King is one of the most followed and shared activists and journalists in the world. In addition to being the Founder and Editor in Chief of The North Star, he also leads the Grassroots Law Project and the Real Justice PAC. A historian by training, Shaun King is the New York Times bestselling author of Make Change: How to Fight Injustice, Dismantle Systemic Oppression, and Own Our Future. His upcoming book, a memoir called Lemons and Stones, is on sale now! Shaun’s daily news podcast, The Breakdown with Shaun King, has been heard and shared hundreds of millions of times in almost every country in the world and is available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and everywhere podcasts are heard. Shaun has been with his brilliant wife, Rai, for over 25 years, and they are raising their 5 kids in Brooklyn, New York.
Would love your thoughts.
I agreed with your open letter then, and I still do now! We all know why meta really banned you for life, it’s because of your truthfulness and the risks you take to spread it to the world! 🌍 That is what scared them. That was the real “threat”, but The truth always comes to light! And They can’t ban the Hearts and Hunger that people have for Truth and Justice…that is everlasting!
Also, I just purchased the Signed hardcover copy of your New LIMITED EDITION Book 📖 Lemons and Stones! I am sooo excited and cannot wait to read it! 😊 Thank You Shaun King for your dedication and for ALWAYS standing up for the little guys against the Giants that abuse their power in this world! you are amazing, you are my Hero! God Bless You! 🤍