U.S. News
Black Lives Activist-Journalist Shaun King Banned by Meta
By Matt De Vlieger · December 26, 2023
A Christmas Ban
Shaun King's social media account was removed by Meta over the weekned. Here King is seen with his family on Christmas a few years ago. Shaun King
Activism and Initiatives
Shaun King gained prominence as an activist, particularly in the Black Lives Matter movement. He launched campaigns like Justice Together in 2015, aimed at addressing police brutality. In 2018, he co-founded Real Justice PAC, focusing on criminal justice reform at the local level. King's involvement in high-profile cases, such as the arrest of DeAndre Harris' attackers, brought attention to his activism. He has been attacked by both Right and Left establishment.
Early Life
Jeffery "Shaun King" was born on September 17, 1979, in Franklin County, Kentucky. Raised in Versailles, Kentucky, he faced racism and hate crimes during his upbringing. Despite challenges, King attended Morehouse College in Atlanta, Georgia, where he became involved in student leadership and later earned a master's degree in history from Arizona State University. Instagram
Career Path
After a brief stint as a high school civics teacher, King worked in Atlanta's juvenile justice system before becoming a pastor at Total Grace Christian Center. In 2008, he founded Courageous Church in Atlanta, utilizing social media to recruit members. He later transitioned to writing and journalism, contributing to platforms like the Daily Kos, New York Daily News, and The Young Turks. Shaun King
Tamir Rice & Jazmine Barnes
Shaun King has been actively involved in raising awareness and funds for victims of racially charged incidents. Following the tragic shooting of 12-year-old Tamir Rice in 2014, King raised $60,000 through YouCaring.com for Rice's family. However, discrepancies emerged, with Rice's family stating they were unaware of King's efforts. This controversy led to the court seizing the raised money. In a similar vein, King played a role in the Jazmine Barnes case in 2018, offering a $25,000 reward for information leading to an arrest. Despite initial missteps in identifying a suspect, King's involvement was credited with aiding the investigation. Sanders Institute
Political Shifts
Initially affiliated with the Democratic Party, King left after the 2016 election, citing corruption and lack of neutrality during the primaries. He expressed initial reservations about supporting Kamala Harris and Joe Biden in the 2020 Democratic primaries due to their criminal justice positions but later acknowledged Harris's changed stance. King has been under attack from both Left and Right parties, Republicans and Democrats for his views on racial justice, police misconduct, government policy, and militarism. Shaun King
Recent Ban from Instagram & Palestine Posts
In recent developments, Shaun King was banned from Instagram for his pro-Palestine posts. Allegedly warned by friends working for Meta (formerly Facebook), this incident adds to King's history of controversy and brings attention to the intersection of social media, activism, and geopolitical issues. Shaun King/Instagram