Facebook Bans Back the Blue Ad

In the United States of America, when the people decide they want to stand up and support any component of the public good, there should be no force capable of stopping that good action forward. 

In today’s world, many forces within the mechanics of modern media attempt to dismantle our core freedoms as individuals and business owners by suppressing our right to speak out and share what we want to say and support. This happens more and more frequently and from the bottom to the top. Even the former President Donald Trump is still currently banned from using Facebook and other social media platforms. Essentially, the man is forbidden to speak the public realm in a country where freedom of speech is a supposed cornerstone of what it is to be an American. These same tactics affect conservatives and religious people across the spectrum, including liberals and Democrats who speak against the common narrative.

In today’s news, another example of this blatant suppression has appeared in reporting from Fox News.

This time, Facebook decided it would block online advertisements from a Florida distillery that was attempting to show their support for the Back the Blue movement and local law enforcement. Apparently, the platform no longer allows even this basic public support. 

Loaded Cannon Distillery, located in Lakewood Ranch of Bradenton, Florida, is preparing to launch a new line of special spirits in support of different dedicated groups of first responders. 

“We’re launching this Lost Legends series because they are legends, all of them” said creative director Michelle Russell. “First responders, EMTs, police, firefighters, anybody that wears a badge, and they deserve some recognition”.

In an effort to promote the event online to a greater audience, Russell created a series of advertisements to share on social media. Each of these requests were denied by Facebook who sent a notification back saying, “Your ad may have been rejected if it mentions politicians or sensitive social issues that could influence public opinion, how people vote and may impact the outcome of an election or pending legislation”. 

Fox News had reached out to Facebook for comment with no reply. 

Russell continued, speaking to Fox News, “We’re just trying to support our community because during this hard, trying year that everybody has gone through”.

Despite efforts to share the event, the advertisements were all banned from being shared online. 

It should never exist within the borders of our country that any business or person has to deal with this sort of censorship and suppression. Even from a big tech company, especially when that big tech company itself was built in America. So it should also have to follow the foundational laws of the constitution that made America what it is today, no matter the profit margins or desired narrative.  If a local business chooses to show love to local law enforcement and first responders, there will hardly ever if never be sufficient reason to stop that from occurring in this country. 

As we continue to move forward into the future, something must be done to ensure that the freedom of speech is protected online for all people.

Regardless, despite the ban, Loaded Cannon Distillery is still holding a free event to support first responders on May 29th from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. featuring live music and food with free drink samples from the store. The new line of spirits launches early this June. The majority of the events proceeds will go to SOLE or Supporters of Law Enforcement, while 2% of the profits from each of the 5 new spirits from their product line will be given to that group being honored.