Facebook rejects ads for pro-Trump July 4 boat parade on NC lake, prompting complaint
Organizers of a July 4 Donald Trump boat parade on Lake Norman said they intend to file a federal complaint against Facebook after the social media giant rejected their paid promotional ads for the event.
“Facebook REJECTED our application MULTIPLE TIMES and will not let us promote and advertise our Patriotic Parade,” organizers of the LKN Trump Boat Parade posted on Facebook Sunday.
“LET’S SHOW FACEBOOK WE DONT NEED THEIR HELP!” the organizers wrote on the site, which had 1,000 followers by Tuesday. “RSVP TODAY!”nm
In their post, organizers said they “documented our application process and will be reporting FACEBOOK’S responses and rejections to the US Government.”
The organizers’ posts about the event don’t say why Facebook rejected the ads and which federal agency the organizers plan to report the rejections to. The administrator of the Facebook page and Facebook’s media relations department did not reply to requests for comment Tuesday.
On its site, Facebook says anyone in the U.S. who wants to place an ad about “social issues, elections or politics” must go through an authorization process and add a “Paid for by” disclaimer.
Facebook attached a general COVID-19 warning to the boat parade listing on its site, as it has done with other events: ”It’s up to all of us to slow the spread of COVID-19,” the warning reads. “Everyone, including young and healthy people, should avoid large gatherings during this time. Stay up to date with public health guidelines from cdc.gov.”
Boat parade organizers suspect politics is behind the ad rejections, judging by their reply to a man’s post on the site.
When the man said “Leftbook” rejected his ads for pro-Trump T-shirts, someone from the boat parade Facebook page replied: “yep. They only cater to the lib agenda.”
Planes, motorcycles also participating
Saturday’s event also will feature a flyover by private planes, a motorcycle ride through Lake Norman’s towns and a celebration until 11 p.m. at the Queen’s Landing entertainment complex on N.C. 150 West in Mooresville on the lake.
The parade is scheduled to set sail at 1 p.m. from the waters in front of Trump National Golf Club Charlotte, which is on Brawley School Road in southern Iredell County.
Boaters will cruise at idle speed toward the southern end of the lake near Cowans Ford Dam on the Mecklenburg-Lincoln county line, according to the parade Facebook page.
Motorcyclists will meet at noon in front of Summit Coffee in downtown Davidson and end at Queen’s Landing at about 2 p.m. Summit Coffee is not affiliated with the rally.
Other Trump boat parades
Similar pro-Trump boat parades have been held on lakes nationwide in recent weeks and months, from San Diego to Miami.
On May 30, more than 100 boats joined together at the Buster Boyd Bridge on Lake Wylie for a similar rally in support of the president. People also sat on the shoreline holding Trump flags to show their support.
Patrick Kiely, organizer of the Lake Wylie event, said he named the event Trump’s Armada to set it apart from other national events. He said the boat parade was a safe and social distant way to show support for the president during the COVID-19 pandemic.
This story was originally published June 30, 2020 at 2:29 PM.