Airbnb cancels alleged Proud Boy's reservation ahead of 'Million MAGA March'
The man claims he was not a part of the group but acknowledged he had participated in a vetting chat
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Your support makes all the difference.Airbnb cancelled a reservation made by a member of the SPLC designated hate group the Proud Boys ahead of this weekend's "Million MAGA March" in Washington DC.
Twitter users pressured the company to cancel the reservation of a member of the far-right street gang after he posted that he had rented an Airbnb and was open to having roommates for the Million MAGA March in a social media post.
"I rented an apartment through AirBNB walking distance. There is room there for a couple other guys if you are interested message me," his message said.
The Million MAGA March is a gathering of Trump supporters who support the president’s baseless bid to overturn the results of the election.
"Hey @Airbnb what are your thoughts on members of white supremacist hate groups like the 'Proud Boys' using your platform?" We Will Be Ruthless, a Twitter account that tracks far-right groups, tweeted at the company.
The account shared a screenshot of a chat the man was participating in during which he urged others to join him at the rally.
“So how many of you big talkers are going? I’m so sick of this crap. 99 percent of you f****** just sit and yell at the TV while the f****** pinkos are taking down the country,” he wrote. “I’m gonna be there 100 percent. And the rest of you f**** deserve the country you will get.”
A day after the Proud Boys member tweeted out his invitation, Airbnb announced it had cancelled his reservation.
The man claimed he was not a Proud Boy, despite having participated in a vetting chat thread for the group.
"It turns out I was somehow outed to AirBnB and they canceled not only my reservation but my membership because they 'won't support members of hate groups.' Funny thing is I'M NOT A PROUD BOY nor do I intend to ever be one!" he wrote.
He said he was in a "vetting room" for the group but decided against joining when he "saw some of the company I was with." He said he views Airbnb's ban a "badge of honor."
Airbnb said the man’s relationship to the group was enough to warrant the ban from its service.
During the first presidential debate, Donald Trump - when asked to denounce supporters committing violence in his name - told the Proud Boys to “stand back and stand by," which many members of the organisation took as a stamp of approval from the president.
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