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'{{Use mdy dates|date=October 2020}} THIS IS SUCH CRAP! Walk Away America! Love you Brandon. MAGA The '''WalkAway campaign''', also styled '''#WalkAway''', is a [[social-media campaign]] that was launched ahead of the [[2018 midterm elections|United States 2018 mid-term elections]] by Brandon Straka, a hairstylist from New York City.<ref name="FitsimonsDemocrats">{{cite news |last1=FitSimons |first1=Tim |title=Meet Brandon Straka, a gay former liberal encouraging others to #WalkAway from Democrats |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/feature/nbc-out/meet-brandon-straka-gay-former-liberal-encouraging-others-walkaway-democrats-n902316 |accessdate=18 March 2019 |publisher=NBC News |date=21 August 2018}}</ref><ref>{{Citation|last=#WalkAway Campaign Official YouTube|title=#WalkAway - Brandon Straka, "Why I left the Democrat Party"|date=2018-06-29|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=51UGcghHZsk|access-date=2018-11-03}}</ref> According to its website, the campaign "encourages and supports those on the [[Left (politics)|Left]] to walk away from the divisive tenets endorsed and mandated by the [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic Party]] of today."<ref>{{Citation|title=#WalkAway Campaign"|url=https://www.walkawaycampaign.com/|access-date=2020-01-21}}</ref> Warning: Information contained here is not all factual. ==Events== In August 2020, the WalkAway Campaign held a rally in [[West Hollywood, California]]. Nearly 300 demonstrators attended, including celebrity [[Joy Villa]]. Many held flags and signs supportive of [[Donald Trump]] and condemning in Democratic party.<ref>https://www.wehoville.com/2020/08/08/nearly-300-walkaway-demonstrators-rally-in-west-hollywood-to-support-trump/</ref> == Controversy == News sources have debated the extent to which WalkAway is an example of [[astroturfing]] rather than a genuine [[Grassroots lobbying|grassroots movement]]. David A. Love of [[CNN]] condemned the campaign as "pure propaganda [and] a psychological operation.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://edition.cnn.com/2018/07/17/opinions/russian-bots-2018-midterm-elections-opinion-love/index.html|title=Russian bots are using #WalkAway to try to wound Dems in midterms|last=Love|first=David A.|work=CNN|access-date=2018-11-03}}</ref> The website [[Hamilton 68]], which tracks [[Russian interference in the 2020 United States elections|Russia's interference on U.S. elections]], reported that WalkAway was "connected to Kremlin-linked Russian bots to manipulate voters into thinking the movement was more popular and active that it actually was."<ref name=":1">{{Cite web|title=#Walkaway movement to hold Atlanta event amid questions about support|url=https://www.ajc.com/news/local/walkaway-movement-hold-atlanta-event-amid-questions-about-support/D8rFyISOyCmEstogz3o5vM/|last=Suggs|first=Ernie|date=|website=The Atlanta Journal-Constitution|language=English|url-status=live|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=2020-05-20}}</ref> Abby Ohlheiser in ''[[The Washington Post]]'' claimed "There’s little actual evidence to suggest that #WalkAway represents a mass conversion of millions – or even thousands – of Democrats", and contrasted the broad appeal of true [[Viral video|viral videos]] with the "Conservative Internet viral" nature of the WalkAway video.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|title=Analysis {{!}} The #WalkAway meme is what happens when everything is viral and nothing matters|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-intersect/wp/2018/07/02/the-walkaway-meme-is-what-happens-when-everything-is-viral-and-nothing-matters/|last=Ohlheiser|first=Abby|date=2 July 2018|website=The Washington Post|language=en|url-status=live|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=2018-11-03}}</ref> [[ThinkProgress]] characterized the campaign as "a grifting operation," noting efforts by the organizers to sell dinner packages priced in the hundreds of dollars to march attendees.<ref>{{cite web|title=Pro-Trump #WalkAway March has all the signs of a grifting operation|url=https://thinkprogress.org/is-the-right-wing-walkaway-march-already-falling-apart-95dbce937e2a/|last=Michel|first=Casey|date=16 October 2018|website=ThinkProgress|publisher=|url-status=live|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=}}</ref> ''[[Slate (magazine)|Slate]]'' journalist Mark Joseph Stern accused Straka of presenting royalty-free [[stock photography|stock images]] from [[Shutterstock]] and claiming they were of people who had left the Democratic Party,<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.fastcompany.com/90207120/these-people-who-walked-away-from-the-democrats-are-stock-photo-models|title=These people who “walked away from the Democrats” are stock-photo models|date=2018-07-24|work=Fast Company|access-date=2018-11-03|language=en-US}}</ref> though Straka has denied that any such material originated from the WalkAway campaign. Snopes posted a tweet from Stern stating that the wife of Supreme Court Justice [[Clarence Thomas]] shared the meme.{{clarify|date=October 2020}}<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/walkaway-campaign-stock-photos/|title=FACT CHECK: Did the #WalkAway Campaign Use Stock Photographs for People It Claimed Left the Democratic Party?|work=Snopes.com|access-date=2018-11-03|language=en-US}}</ref> Straka has stated that WalkAway does not receive major donations and that "everything is grassroots support from Americans who send us $5 or $100."<ref name=":1" /> {{As of|2020|May}}, the [[Center for Responsive Politics]] reported that of the $20,104 donated to WalkAway in 2020, $7,521 were contributed by nine large ($200 or more) donors—of which Straka is one.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Walkaway Campaign PAC Summary {{!}} OpenSecrets|url=https://www.opensecrets.org/pacs/lookup2.php?cycle=2020&strID=C00718197|website=www.opensecrets.org|access-date=2020-05-20}}</ref>{{better source needed|Outdated|date=October 2020}} WalkAway received a $10,000 donation from [[Alex Jones]] and [[InfoWars]].<ref>{{cite news |last1=Isaacs |first1=Deanna |title=A dramatic confrontation between the right-wing political group #WalkAway and Theater Wit ends up on YouTube |url=https://www.chicagoreader.com/chicago/walkaway-theater-wit-hate-speech/Content?oid=71569311 |agency=The Chicago Reader |date=July 10, 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Fitzsimons |first1=Tim |title=Meet Brandon Straka, a gay former liberal encouraging others to #WalkAway from Democrats |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/feature/nbc-out/meet-brandon-straka-gay-former-liberal-encouraging-others-walkaway-democrats-n902316 |agency=NBC |date=August 21, 2018}}</ref> When questioned about whether WalkAway accepted the $10,000 donation from Jones and his company, Straka replied that he was grateful for the donation.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.reddit.com/r/walkaway/comments/956lnq/hi_everyone_im_brandon_straka_founder_of_walkaway/e3qhxd1/?context=3|title=Hi everyone, I’m Brandon Straka, founder of #WalkAway Campaign, a true grassroots movement...|access-date=2020-08-20}}</ref> == See also == * [[Hashtag activism]] * [[Political action committee]] * [[Blexit]] *[[Astroturfing]] == References == <references /> [[Category:2018 in American politics]] [[Category:2018 in internet culture]] [[Category:Conservatism in the United States]] [[Category:Hashtags]] [[Category:Political campaigns]] [[Category:Protest marches]] [[Category:2018 YouTube videos]]'