Dear John,

If Elon Musk buys Twitter, his warped idea of “free speech” will likely massively amplify the abuse and harassment on the social media platform. Sign the petition now telling Twitter to block Musk’s hostile takeover.

Tesla CEO Elon Musk has launched a $43 billion hostile takeover attempt to buy Twitter, one of the world’s biggest social media platforms — and it’s terrifying. Why? Read on.

Twitter already has a problem protecting users from abuse on the huge platform, and while Musk claims he’ll support “free speech,” we know that’s usually code for a free pass on racism, homophobia, transphobia and disinformation. Musk controlling Twitter would harm the millions of people already experiencing harassment and abuse on the site.

Moreover, Musk has a history of retaliation and harassment against his critics. He has fired Tesla workers who were organizing a union.¹ Black Tesla employees who spoke out about experiencing rampant racism and discrimination were retaliated against and fired for speaking out.² And he has bullied his critics on Twitter, threatening their jobs.³ Someone with such a history can’t be trusted to not amplify the harassment and abuse on Twitter if he buys it.

Sign the petition now urging Twitter to fight Elon Musk’s hostile takeover of the social media giant.

Sign Now

Twitter has grown into a home for activists and a source used by millions to learn more about societal problems and international and local news that isn’t covered by more prominent cable news.

Elon Musk isn’t fooling anyone. His self-serving idea of “free speech,” in practice, seems to be one in which only the rich and powerful can say what they please, without any negative consequences.

This effort from the ultra-wealthy to take control of news outlets to craft their own narratives is not new (Jeff Bezos owns The Washington Post, and just...google Rupert Murdoch). And now, Elon Musk — who paid $0 in federal income tax in 2018, despite his sky-rocketing wealth—can easily afford a $43 billion deal to take control of one of the world’s biggest social media platforms.⁴ It’s time to fight back.

Will you sign our petition and urge Twitter’s board and shareholders to block Elon Musk’s hostile takeover?

Thanks for all you do,

— MoveOn

P.S. This petition was created on MoveOn.org, where anyone can start their own online petitions. You can start your own petition to push for progressive change here.

Sources:

1. "Of Course Elon Musk Wanted Twitter," The Atlantic,, April 5, 2022 https://www.theatlantic.com/technology/archive/2022/04/elon-musk-twitter-free-speech/629479/

2. “Black workers accused Tesla of racism for years. Now California is stepping in,” The Guardian, February 19, 2022 https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2022/feb/18/tesla-california-racial-harassment-discrimination-lawsuit

3. “Despite calling himself a 'free speech absolutist,' Elon Musk has a history of retaliation against employees and critics,” Insider, March 27, 2022 https://www.businessinsider.com/free-speech-absolutist-elon-musk-censors-employees-critics-2022-3

4. “The Secret IRS Files: Trove of Never-Before-Seen Records Reveal How the Wealthiest Avoid Income Tax,” Propublica, June 8, 2021 https://www.propublica.org/article/the-secret-irs-files-trove-of-never-before-seen-records-reveal-how-the-wealthiest-avoid-income-tax

PAID FOR BY MOVEON.ORG POLITICAL ACTION, http://pol.moveon.org/. Not authorized by any candidate or candidate's committee.