If a bunch of white supremacists thought they were going to use Airbnb to book lodging for their upcoming hate rally in Charlottesville, Va., they thought wrong.
With its headliner billed as Richard “Punch Me in the Face Please” Spencer, attendees of the “Unite the Right,” a rally being organized by self-described “white activist” Jason Kessler, are now out of Airbnb rooms after having their accounts deactivated.
In a statement to The Wrap, Airbnb solidified its stance against hate groups and those who want to rally with them: “In 2016 we established the Airbnb Community Commitment reflecting our belief that to make good on our mission of belonging, those who are members of the Airbnb community accept people regardless of their race, religion, national origin, ethnicity, disability, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, or age . We asked all members of the Airbnb to affirmatively sign on to this commitment.”
The company labeled the white supremacists “antithetical.” And, of course, it didn’t take long for the organizer to call for a boycott.
“You see this thing going that’s going on with Airbnb,” said Kessler in a Twitter video. “Anybody who is not just in the ‘alt-right,’ but who is conservative, right-wing or cares about civil liberties should start boycotting Airbnb. Airbnb are canceling people’s reservations to stay in Charlottesville ... based on political ideology.”
The rally, set to take place Saturday, will be filled with white supremacists and hopefully other people willing to punch a couple in the face who are now displaced and probably booking hotels in the area. Because Kessler does have a permit for the event, the show will go on regardless of attendees’ lodging issue.