Democrat Michigan State Representative Cynthia Johnson posted a video on social media earlier in the week, appearing to make threats against who she referred to “Trumpers” that would be carried out by “soldiers.”
But an attempt by Tom Elliott, who owns Grabien Media, to repost this on YouTube ended up in Google’s video platform removing his video.
Johnson’s comments, that included her saying, “We ain’t playing with you” and “be careful” came amid the post-election controversy in the US over the regularity of the presidential vote, and was made in a tone and posture that caused the speaker of the Michigan House, Lee Chatfield, to issue a statement announcing that Johnson could be facing disciplinary action and has in the meanwhile been stripped of her committees.
YouTube’s notice to Grabien, however, is not entirely clear on what is being censored when his video about this got removed – was YouTube denying him his right to repost the threats as newsworthy content, or were Johnson and her party being censored?
YouTube does mention that the reason for the removal is a violation of its policy on violent criminal organizations.
Does YouTube think the Democratic Party is a violent criminal organization – or is it, as Grabien thinks, that the video giant wants to suppress information about the threats made against Trump voters, so that as few people as possible learn about Johnson’s remarks that many see as shocking?
“So this is just a warning to you Trumpers. Be careful, walk lightly, we ain’t playing with you. Enough of the shenanigans,” Johnson is heard saying in the video, reposts of which are still available on Twitter. “Enough is enough. And for those of you who are soldiers, you know how to do it. Do it right, be in order, make them pay.”
