KHive
#KHive is an online informal organization supporting the Vice-Presidential candidacy of Kamala Harris. It is not formally affiliated with the campaign.[1] It formed during her 2020 Presidential campaign as an effort to defend Harris from racist and sexist attacks.[2][1][3] It is an example of stan culture.[1][3] Harris' supporters also use the hashtag #WeGotHerBack.[2]
The hashtag first emerged in August of 2018,[1] before Harris had announced her presidential candidacy but after she'd told MSNBC's Kasie Hunt she was "not ruling it out".[4] As of July 2019, while Harris was in her presidential campaign, 38,000 twitter accounts had used the hashtag and according to Vox "accrued an estimated 360 million impressions".[1] The hashtag is a reference to #BeyHive, which is a group of Beyoncé fans.[2][1][3] It was first used by Eric Chavous tweeting as @FlyWithKamala, which he created after the 2016 election, in response to Harris tweet showing a Vogue cover featuring Beyoncé and after he'd seen a television panel "jokingly coming up with a term to call this growing legion of Kamala Harris supporters on social media."[1]
When Harris endorsed Joe Biden in March, the Biden campaign released a video in which Biden asks Harris if the #KHive will support him.[3]
References
- ^ a b c d e f g Zhou, Li (2019-07-25). "The #KHive, Kamala Harris's most devoted online supporters, explained". Vox. Retrieved 2020-08-15.
- ^ a b c Zakrzewski, Cat (13 August 2020). "Kamala Harris is already facing online attacks in her bid for the vice presidency". Washington Post. Retrieved 2020-08-15.
- ^ a b c d Bixby, Scott (2020-08-12). "Kamala Harris Built a 'Digital Army'—Now She Gets to Use It". The Daily Beast. Retrieved 2020-08-15.
- ^ Shelbourne, Mallory (2018-06-25). "Kamala Harris on 2020 presidential bid: 'I'm not ruling it out'". TheHill. Retrieved 2020-08-15.