A wave of deceptive posts about the Los Angeles protests, particularly among Latino communities, has emerged on social media, largely in Spanish. These posts often link protesters to socialist or communist governments, with one post on X claiming immigration protest groups have ties to the “Venezuelan mafia” and Cuba’s Communist Party without providing evidence. Such claims echo false narratives from past protests, including those following George Floyd’s death.
The Los Angeles protests primarily oppose immigration raids linked to the Trump administration’s strict policies, generating significant social media coverage, including dramatic incidents of violence. Some extreme left groups have celebrated violent acts, further fueling the misinformation campaign. Evelyn Pérez-Verdía, president of We Are Más, observed an increase in misinformation visibility, stating that while falsehoods were once largely hidden, they are now prevalent online.
Misperceptions target local leaders like Mayor Karen Bass and California Governor Gavin Newsom, with false images linking Bass to Fidel Castro circulating widely. Although she has connections to Cuba, the misinformation amplifies conspiracy theories suggesting coordinated efforts by foreign powers to incite unrest.
Misinformation also reached federal levels, with claims that Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum encouraged the protests. Sheinbaum denied these allegations, asserting her opposition to violence. Moreover, misleading content depicting the protests as communist uprisings has proliferated online.
Experts note that Spanish-language misinformation appears to be more rampant than its English counterpart due to less stringent monitoring on social media. This deceptive climate fosters increased partisanship and erodes trust in credible information, ultimately undermining a shared societal reality crucial for governance.
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