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WalkAway campaign

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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 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 attempts to get people to vote for President Donald Trump 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] Later on September 5, the campaign held a rally in Dallas, Texas. At the rally, WalkAway protesters and Black Lives Matter counter-protestors were involved in a violent scuffle, in which a WalkAway protestor pushed a Black Lives Matter protestor to the ground. The Black Lives Matter protestor was arrested on two misdemeanor citations of assault, and at least 10 outstanding warrants. Straka claimed that the man who pushed the Black Lives Matter protestor down was a hired security guard, and this statement spread controversy among the Black Lives Matter Protestors.[9] On October 3, 2020, Straka held a rally in Washington D.C.[10]

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."[11] 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."[12]

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.[13] 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.[14]

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,[15] 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][16]

Straka has stated that WalkAway does not receive major donations and that "everything is grassroots support from Americans who send us $5 or $100."[12] As of May 2020, 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.[17][better source needed]

WalkAway received a $10,000 donation from Alex Jones and InfoWars.[18][19] When questioned about whether WalkAway accepted the $10,000 donation from Jones and his company, Straka replied that he was grateful for the donation.[20]

See also

References

  1. ^ FitSimons, Tim (August 21, 2018). "Meet Brandon Straka, a gay former liberal encouraging others to #WalkAway from Democrats". NBC News. Retrieved March 18, 2019.
  2. ^ #WalkAway Campaign Official YouTube (June 29, 2018), #WalkAway - Brandon Straka, "Why I left the Democrat Party", retrieved November 3, 2018
  3. ^ #WalkAway Campaign", retrieved January 21, 2020
  4. ^ "Walkaway Foundation". Retrieved October 28, 2020.
  5. ^ "Walkaway Foundation - NYS Attorney General - Charities". Retrieved October 28, 2020.
  6. ^ "Walkaway Foundation- Donate Now". Retrieved October 28, 2020.
  7. ^ "Walkaway Campaign PAC - OpenSecrets". Retrieved October 28, 2020.
  8. ^ https://www.wehoville.com/2020/08/08/nearly-300-walkaway-demonstrators-rally-in-west-hollywood-to-support-trump/
  9. ^ https://www.wfaa.com/article/news/local/activist-dominique-alexander-others-detained-following-incident-at-dallas-walkaway-campaign-rally/287-712f6c8f-a147-4e52-b261-e3144f0ea864
  10. ^ https://www.wusa9.com/article/news/local/protests/protests-and-rallies-fill-dc-streets-one-month-ahead-of-election/65-7460e7d8-e504-4c7b-afd5-042a4ca7099b
  11. ^ Love, David A. "Russian bots are using #WalkAway to try to wound Dems in midterms". CNN. Retrieved November 3, 2018.
  12. ^ 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)
  13. ^ 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)
  14. ^ 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)
  15. ^ "These people who "walked away from the Democrats" are stock-photo models". Fast Company. July 24, 2018. Retrieved November 3, 2018.
  16. ^ "FACT CHECK: Did the #WalkAway Campaign Use Stock Photographs for People It Claimed Left the Democratic Party?". Snopes.com. Retrieved November 3, 2018.
  17. ^ "Walkaway Campaign PAC Summary | OpenSecrets". www.opensecrets.org. Retrieved May 20, 2020.
  18. ^ 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.
  19. ^ Fitzsimons, Tim (August 21, 2018). "Meet Brandon Straka, a gay former liberal encouraging others to #WalkAway from Democrats". NBC.
  20. ^ "Hi everyone, I'm Brandon Straka, founder of #WalkAway Campaign, a true grassroots movement..." Retrieved August 20, 2020.
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