Rebecca Solnit, a well-known author from San Francisco, made headlines this week following the suspension of her Facebook account after she posted an essay related to the ongoing protests in Los Angeles.
Within 24 hours, Facebook reinstated her account, citing the suspension as an error.
The post that triggered the suspension touched on issues of violence and social justice, expressing Solnit’s belief that those who are older and more privileged should refrain from dictating the actions of younger and marginalized individuals directly affected by state violence.
In her Facebook post, Solnit stated, “I also believe that those of us who are older, whiter, safer from the threats of state violence do not have the moral ground to lecture the younger, browner, and blacker, more directly impacted on what they should and should not do.”
She emphasized the challenges faced by individuals who resemble immigrants and described the narrative used to justify violence against them as flawed, arguing that America has a much more complex demographic history.
However, by Tuesday, her account faced a ban after Facebook deemed her content to violate its Community Standards regarding account integrity.
After the suspension, Solnit took to Bluesky to express her frustration. She explained, “Facebook decided to suspend my account because of a piece I wrote about violence which in no way advocates for it but does point out who is violent in the current ruckus.”
Accompanying her post was a screenshot revealing Facebook’s vague rationale for the suspension, stating that her activity did not align with their Community Standards.
Solnit appealed the decision, but Facebook maintained that her account did not meet the standards necessary for reinstatement, indicating there would be no further review available.
This situation gained traction when the San Francisco Chronicle published an article detailing the incident. Interestingly, within 30 minutes of their publication, Facebook reversed its ban and restored Solnit’s account.
In a timely response, Chronicle writer Lily Janiak revealed that Facebook’s communications team confirmed the suspension was a mistake, fundamentally acknowledging the media’s role in prompting a reevaluation of their decision.
Facebook/Meta spokesperson Andy Stone took to Twitter to announce that the account was restored due to an error in the moderation process.
This incident highlights a recurring issue with the platform’s content moderation policies, which rely heavily on algorithms that can misinterpret user-generated content.
Solnit articulated her frustrations about these systems, critiquing the ‘inane algorithms’ responsible for content removal.
“My account wasn’t just suspended. When I asked for a review of the suspension I was told my account was disabled and there would be no further appeal. Permanent out,” she stated, elucidating on the distressing nature of the experience.
The timing of this incident invites speculation concerning Facebook’s evolving content moderation policies, particularly under the influence of political pressures from the Trump administration and its supporters.
Over the past year, critics have noted a shift in Facebook and Mark Zuckerberg’s approach, suggesting a pattern of appeasement to right-wing narratives.
This includes appointing individuals like UFC president Dana White, known for his controversial views, to their board of directors and financially supporting political figures like President Donald Trump.
In her essay, titled “Some Notes on the City of Angels and the Nature of Violence,” Solnit shared insights regarding the complexities of social justice movements today.
She mentioned that these movements signal a broader backlash against political forces hostile to progress measures achieved over the last few decades.
“I think maybe it’s begun, the bigger fiercer backlash against the Trump Administration which is itself a violent backlash against every good thing that’s happened over the past several decades,” she noted emphatically.
Her conclusion reflected a comprehensive view on advancing rights for marginalized communities, asserting that these struggles are integral to the social fabric of the nation.
Despite the digital hurdles presented by platforms like Facebook, Solnit’s voice remains a crucial element in ongoing conversations surrounding violence, social justice, and civil rights.
image source from：https://sfist.com/2025/06/12/facebook-bans-and-the-un-bans-author-rebecca-solnits-account-over-la-protest-post-in-an-apparent-ai-flub/
