A surge of false information about protests in Los Angeles, particularly among Latino communities, is spreading primarily in Spanish. Many posts link the protests to socialist or communist governments, claiming associations with groups like “the Venezuelan mafia” and the left-wing Morena Party of Mexico, without providing evidence. Such misrepresentations mirror false narratives seen during past protests, such as those following the death of George Floyd.
Recent protests have emerged in response to the hard-line immigration policies enforced by the Trump administration. Posts on social media depict intense confrontations, including violence against law enforcement. Meanwhile, some extreme left groups are accused of inciting violence. Misinformation seems specifically aimed at associating these immigration protests with leftist Latin American governments, thereby supporting Trump’s policies.
Evelyn Pérez-Verdía, president of We Are Más, notes an increase in easily accessible misinformation as compared to previous years when it was primarily shared on platforms like Telegram. The narrative suggests that protests are a manipulated response rather than a grassroots movement. Trump’s platform falsely labeled demonstrators as “Paid Insurrectionists,” while misinformation has targeted leaders like Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass and California Governor Gavin Newsom, including a doctored photo of Bass with Fidel Castro.
Pérez-Verdía points out a distinct difference in the type of false information circulating in Spanish versus English, with Spanish narratives focusing heavily on elected officials and communist associations. The spread of such misinformation is exacerbated by fake accounts and marketing strategies, fostering partisanship and distrust in the information, impacting shared realities crucial for governance.
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