This week, Twitter CEO Elon Musk suspended the accounts of several journalists who had critiqued him or his business
dealings.
While no Common Dreams reporters were included in this wave of bans, it's clear that Elon Musk is sending a message: Any journalist or news outlet who criticizes or crosses him will be punished.
Well, we have a message for Elon Musk: We refuse to be bullied.
Elon, when you refuse to pay taxes, we're going to hold you
accountable. When you promote white supremacists and conspiracy theories, we're going to call you out. And when whistleblowers come forward to reveal sexual harassment, union-busting, or "nightmarish conditions" at your "modern day sweatshops," we will lift up their voices and ensure that you cannot bully them into silence.
But to our readers: It's important to understand that Elon Musk has set an incredibly dangerous precedent that represents a serious threat to all journalists, especially a nonprofit online news outlet like Common Dreams.
As
with virtually every online news outlet in the world, we rely on social media to build our audience, and the danger posed by this kind of retaliation is very, very real. That’s why, in order for us to keep standing up to Elon Musk and his ilk, we’re counting on you to stand with us.
