WalkAway campaign
The WalkAway campaign, also styled #WalkAway, is a social-media campaign that was launched ahead of the United States 2018 mid-term elections by Brandon Straka, a hairstylist from New York City.[1][2] According to its website, the campaign "encourages and supports those on the Left to walk away from the divisive tenets endorsed and mandated by the Democratic Party of today."[3]
Organization
The WalkAway campaign is setup as a Foundation and a PAC. The Foundation is a registered 501(c)(3) organization defined as a Alliance/Advocacy Organizations within the Public, Society Benefit - Multipurpose and Other category. The IRS ruling year for tax exemption was 2019.[4] While no IRS Annual Return is on file for 2019, the 2018 filing shows contributions of $97,950 with Officers reported as Brandon Straka, Chairman; Maria Albanese, Director, and Tracy Diaz, Director.[5] As of October 28th, 2020, The Foundation was involved in an online fundraising campaign through classy.org which has thus far raised nearly $125k.[6] The PAC is setup as Walkaway Campaign PAC and shows receipts of $29k through the 2020 cycle. The FEC registration is C00718197 and the Treasurer of the PAC is indicated as Dan Backer. [7]
Political activities
The WalkAway Campaign held rallies and marches in cities prior to the 2020 United States Presidential election. In August 2020, the WalkAway Campaign held a rally in West Hollywood, California. Nearly 300 demonstrators attended, including celebrity Joy Villa. Many held flags and signs supportive of Donald Trump and critical of the Democratic party.[8]
Controversy
News sources have debated the extent to which WalkAway is an example of astroturfing rather than a genuine grassroots movement. David A. Love of CNN condemned the campaign as "pure propaganda [and] a psychological operation."[9] The website Hamilton 68, which tracks Russia's interference on U.S. elections, reported that WalkAway was "connected to Kremlin-linked Russian bots to manipulate voters into thinking the movement was more popular and active that it actually was."[10]
Abby Ohlheiser of The Washington Post claimed that "[t]here’s little actual evidence to suggest that #WalkAway represents a mass conversion of millions – or even thousands – of Democrats" and contrasted the broad appeal of true viral videos with the "Conservative Internet viral" nature of the WalkAway video.[11] ThinkProgress characterized the WalkAway campaign as "a grifting operation," noting efforts by the organizers to sell dinner packages priced in the hundreds of dollars to march attendees.[12]
Slate journalist Mark Joseph Stern accused Straka of presenting royalty-free stock images from Shutterstock and claiming they were of people who had left the Democratic Party,[13] though Straka has denied that any such material originated from the WalkAway campaign. Fact-checking website Snopes posted a tweet from Stern stating that the wife of Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas shared the meme.[clarification needed][14]
Straka has stated that WalkAway does not receive major donations and that "everything is grassroots support from Americans who send us $5 or $100."[10] As of May 2020[update], the Center for Responsive Politics reported that of the $20,104 donated to WalkAway in 2020, $7,521 were contributed by nine large ($200 or more) donors, of which Straka is one.[15][better source needed]
WalkAway received a $10,000 donation from Alex Jones and InfoWars.[16][17] When questioned about whether WalkAway accepted the $10,000 donation from Jones and his company, Straka replied that he was grateful for the donation.[18]
See also
References
- ^ FitSimons, Tim (August 21, 2018). "Meet Brandon Straka, a gay former liberal encouraging others to #WalkAway from Democrats". NBC News. Retrieved March 18, 2019.
- ^ #WalkAway Campaign Official YouTube (June 29, 2018), #WalkAway - Brandon Straka, "Why I left the Democrat Party", retrieved November 3, 2018
- ^ #WalkAway Campaign", retrieved January 21, 2020
- ^ "Walkaway Foundation". Retrieved October 28, 2020.
- ^ "Walkaway Foundation - NYS Attorney General - Charities". Retrieved October 28, 2020.
- ^ "Walkaway Foundation- Donate Now". Retrieved October 28, 2020.
- ^ "Walkaway Campaign PAC - OpenSecrets". Retrieved October 28, 2020.
- ^ https://www.wehoville.com/2020/08/08/nearly-300-walkaway-demonstrators-rally-in-west-hollywood-to-support-trump/
- ^ Love, David A. "Russian bots are using #WalkAway to try to wound Dems in midterms". CNN. Retrieved November 3, 2018.
- ^ a b Suggs, Ernie. "#Walkaway movement to hold Atlanta event amid questions about support". The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Retrieved May 20, 2020.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ Ohlheiser, Abby (July 2, 2018). "Analysis | The #WalkAway meme is what happens when everything is viral and nothing matters". The Washington Post. Retrieved November 3, 2018.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ Michel, Casey (October 16, 2018). "Pro-Trump #WalkAway March has all the signs of a grifting operation". ThinkProgress.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ "These people who "walked away from the Democrats" are stock-photo models". Fast Company. July 24, 2018. Retrieved November 3, 2018.
- ^ "FACT CHECK: Did the #WalkAway Campaign Use Stock Photographs for People It Claimed Left the Democratic Party?". Snopes.com. Retrieved November 3, 2018.
- ^ "Walkaway Campaign PAC Summary | OpenSecrets". www.opensecrets.org. Retrieved May 20, 2020.
- ^ Isaacs, Deanna (July 10, 2019). "A dramatic confrontation between the right-wing political group #WalkAway and Theater Wit ends up on YouTube". The Chicago Reader.
- ^ Fitzsimons, Tim (August 21, 2018). "Meet Brandon Straka, a gay former liberal encouraging others to #WalkAway from Democrats". NBC.
- ^ "Hi everyone, I'm Brandon Straka, founder of #WalkAway Campaign, a true grassroots movement..." Retrieved August 20, 2020.