Parler posts by Capitol rebellion supporters show unmoderated threats

• The social media site Parler was taken down at least temporarily after Amazon withdrew its web hosting support.
• Amazon and many others say Parler has not moderated posts that encourage violence and threats to the United States government.
• Parler says it is a free speech platform and that other companies have conspired against it.
• Posts before, during and after the United States Capitol riots on Wednesday show how supporters of the insurrection saw the unrest that rocked the world.
• Visit the Business Insider home page for more stories.

While the social media world cracked down on electoral misinformation and rhetoric that helped fuel violence in the United States Capitol riot last week, Parler was shut down Monday morning by Amazon’s web hosting service.

Parler, who is favored by right-wing politicians – and some extremist groups – was an obstacle in allowing posts that supported Wednesday’s violence. These posts, about 2,000 marked with the hashtag #stormthecapitol, form the timeline of an insurrection that has shaken democracy and the world.

Parler

Amazon withdrew web hosting from the social media platform as criticism grew that Parler failed to moderate dangerous threats to the government. Apple, which dismissed Parler from its App Store, and Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey, also said these posts were dangerous and should not be visible.

Parler disagrees and says it is the last bastion of freedom of expression, as the social media world closes accounts of President Donald Trump and other figures who publish allegations of electoral fraud.

Parler CEO John Matze did not respond to requests for comment, but posted on the platform: “There is a possibility that Parler will be unavailable on the Internet for up to a week while we rebuild from scratch. We prepare for events like this.”

He said in another post that his platform “unites two people with conflicting ideas. Our mission is freedom of expression, democracy and us, the people who hold power”. He told Insider in November that he believed the mainstream media was not telling the truth about his platform’s mission to provide uncensored content to the public.

Parler’s posts on the Capitol revolt are at the center of discussions about how the revolt took shape, the role that social media played in it, freedom of expression and what the country will face next. They have disappeared from public view, at least temporarily, while Parler finds another hosting house in the cloud.

Parler

It should also be noted that many Parler posts have opposed the violence, said the protesters should be prosecuted and used the platform to denigrate the event. But many others were unrestrained support for troublemakers.

How bad did these posts get, and what is the story they tell of a rebellion that killed five people, damaged the Capitol and seriously alarmed a nervous American population?

This is a chance to decide for yourself, as Parler may close, at least briefly.

Insider combed through thousands of posts on the site to make a diary of the riot that has shaken democracy in the US and the world. We are showing full images of posts only from verified accounts of public figures and quoting or composing others.

‘Tyranny will cease when the elites fear for their lives.’

Posters were posted online and at Parler weeks before the January 6 riot, which said “THE GREAT BETRAYON IS OVER” and “IF YOU DON’T HEAR US, YOU WILL FEAR US”.

Other posts leading up to the event also cited intimidation as an objective. A company’s official report posted in Parler that the Washington event would have an impact when “these elites start to see other elites being killed” and “if patriots start shooting at these people and dropping them”.

A commentator in that post quoted what they said was General George Patton’s prayer before the Battle of Bulge. That topic included an image with the quote: “Tyranny will cease when elites fear for their lives”.

Parler

Verified accounts from right feed fire

Before the riot, large right-wing reports verified by Parler sought to energize the crowds.

Conservative commentator Dan Bongino posted: “Can’t you just feel the Democrats’ absolute panic? Tomorrow will be HUGE.” One commenter complained that the participants were not angry enough. “Be angry, you bastards, be angry.” About 13 million users saw the post, Parler showed.

Lin Wood, a Trump lawyer who asked for the execution of Vice President Mike Pence in Parler – one of the few positions the company removed – posted for those meeting in Washington: “The time has come, Patriots. Commit to your lives. ” The post ended with: “TODAY IS OUR DAY.” Almost 8 million people saw the post, showed Parler’s metrics.

The verified account of the Trump team posted a video of the president saying, “We are not going to accept it anymore. That’s what it is about.” A commentator replied, “WE ARE IN DC. WAITING FOR THE CALL. WE CAN ONLY SAVE AMERICA NOW.”

Fox News presenter Sean Hannity posted about the size of the crowd, and Bongino posted a video of a fiery speech by Donald Trump Jr. while Parler users were involved in the pre-riot atmosphere posted with enthusiasm. One wrote a post that included: “War, war, war !!!!! Bring that s — on !!!!”

Parler

‘Take all the weapons and go to DC’

The official account of the Proud Boys, which has 349,000 followers in Parler, posted a photo when the protesters stormed the Capitol: “The patriots arrived at the doors of the Senate Chamber.”

Parler users applauded the rioters. “More more more!” one wrote. “Drag them out of the Capital.”

Others wrote: “Beat the police” and, “Hang up all the traitors!”

Parler

Many posts called for the lynching of Democratic and Pence leaders. One named half a dozen lawmakers and said, “Drag them out onto the street. Burn them!” Others urged protesters to burn the Capitol because of the electoral fraud that the president alleged, despite the lack of evidence.

“Everyone around should abandon all plans, take all weapons and go to DC,” posted one user. “Invade the castle!”

About 1,500 users liked a post that read: “CAPITOL BUILDING DRIVES HAVE BEEN CAPTURED – NOW WE WILL LEARN THE TRUTH.”

A user simply posted the word “BELA” under an image of the riot.

Parler

‘DONALD TRUMP ASKS US TO COME TO DC’

When the riot subsided and the police began to gain control of the crowd, the tone of the posts changed.

“Calling Donald Trump. Mayday mayday. We are being postponed. We need more reinforcements,” wrote one of them.

Another posted a video of clashes with the police, writing: “As the curfew passes, the police are tough on Trump supporters.” A commentator on the post said, “DONALD TRUMP ASKS TO GO TO DC. THIS IS NOT WHAT WE ASK OR EXPECT.”

Other posts begged Mike Flynn, a retired army general and former Trump national security adviser, to come and lead them. One posted that a video of the president asking protesters to refrain from violence was fabricated. “TRUMP CALLS FOR PEACE – BUT CASA BRANCA EMPLOYEES SUGGEST ‘FALSE’ VIDEO,” said a verified account post. It has been liked by users 325 times.

When the president asked for support from the Capitol Police, a poster in Parler read, “The Capitol Police are attacking us … which side are you on then?”

‘NOW YOU’LL SEE A REAL Riot’

Many posters in Parler looked disappointed after Trump called for an end to the violence. “Today my America died,” said one.

But that quickly changed to a determination to go beyond last week’s riot to more excitement next week in the country’s capital. “I HAVE MY ROOM CONFIGURED FOR JAN 16-20!” one said, adding that he wanted to “TAKE AMERICA FOR P — Y”, a reference to a comment recorded by the president before he took office.

“IT IS TO BE REAL,” posted a user of Parler after the uproar. “EVERYTHING WILL BURN … NOW YOU’LL SEE A REAL Riot.”

The day after the insurrection, a Parler user said that Washington’s leaders did not expect “a million patriots to come in the front door and lynch them in the streets. They never feared the people until yesterday.” He closed his post with the phrase: “And it ends on the 20th”.