(Jewish Group) Doug Mastriano PA governor candidate cuts ties with Gab, and antisemitism spikes

[Behind the Aegis]

A Pennsylvania candidate for governor cuts ties with Gab, and antisemitism on the site spikes

In response to Pennsylvania GOP gubernatorial nominee Doug Mastriano’s distancing of himself from Gab, after he was widely criticized for his embrace of the antisemitic social media platform, Gab users have stepped up their antisemitic postings — including death threats and calls for violence against Jews — a new report showed.

Mastriano, a state representative and leader of the “Stop the Steal” movement aiming to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election, is running against Pennsylvania’s Jewish attorney general, Josh Shapiro. Democrats and Jewish Republicans criticized Mastriano after it was reported that he paid Gab and its founder, Andrew Torba, a $5,000 consulting fee in April and maintained an active account on the site.

Gab, a far-right social media platform launched in 2016 has long been an online echo chamber for white nationalism and antisemitic tropes. Robert Bowers, the man who killed 11 Jews at the Tree of Life synagogue in Pittsburgh in 2018, had been a verified user of the site, where he posted neo-Nazi propaganda and calls for violence against Jews.

Under pressure, Mastriano last week disassociated himself from Torba, who frequently shared his antisemitic beliefs and anti-Jewish conspiracy theories in posts promoting the Republican candidate’s campaign. The candidate condemned “antisemitism in all forms” and closed his account.

more...

See some familiar "concerns" from the owner of the site.