US State Dept gets massively trolled over ‘democratic values’ Russian protest tweet
The US Department of State has been trolled for a tweet it posted condemning the detention of protesters at an unsanctioned rally in Moscow, with the agency accused of hypocrisy over its comments.
The State Department reacted to news that up to 500 protesters, including opposition activist Aleksey Navalny, had been arrested at the rally on Sunday by calling their detention an “affront to democratic values.”
U.S. condemns detention of 100s of peaceful protesters in #Russia today. Detaining peaceful protesters is an affront to democratic values.
— Department of State (@StateDept) March 27, 2017
Some 8,000 people protested the alleged corruption of Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev, which had been reported weeks earlier by Navalny.
Twitter users were quick to out the hypocrisy of the tweet, sharing powerful images of US protests where police forcibly held back or tackled demonstrators.
@StateDeptpic.twitter.com/mOPCstnklN
— Andrey (@Andreyp_p) March 27, 2017
Speaking of protestors, here's how U.S. treats own citizens when they protest. Militarized police that doesn't give shit about human rights. pic.twitter.com/fYlKcmezmb
— Hassan| #SaveSomalia (@HassanPRG) March 27, 2017
#NoDAPL#BlackLivesMatter#OWS@StateDeptpic.twitter.com/gULs9KWi0I
— kiran (@KiranOpal) March 27, 2017
uhh @StateDept did you forget the hundreds of people (including journalists and veterans) that police arrested at Standing Rock? pic.twitter.com/zVzPqS1NZw
— Brian Lis (@filmlis) March 27, 2017
@StateDept You have to be quite delusional to make such an ignorant statement. #StandingRock#FreedomOfSpeech#WokeAFpic.twitter.com/qGnacYM7nM
— Ed Higgins (@ehiggins3rd) March 27, 2017
@StateDept you mean like the Occupy Wall Street protests? I agree. pic.twitter.com/sbycrr9ctT
— Ed (@DowdEdward) March 27, 2017
People were quick to remind the State Department of the poor treatment of demonstrators at Black Lives Matter, Standing Rock and Occupy Wall Street protests.
Russia arresting peaceful protesters is bad, and should be condemned.
— Sam Sacks (@SamSacks) March 27, 2017
But the US State Dept is not the best entity to do that. pic.twitter.com/Wx2ubaynIe
@StateDept So what about laws being passed in this country limiting protesters' rights? But do as I say, not as I do amiright?
— Gregory Marullo (@gt_marullo) March 27, 2017
@Lunaseesall@jitterbug212@KareemMathias1@MechObserver@DevyDegaimer Baton Rouge, LA, 2016. pic.twitter.com/k1BA8Woank
— Evan Hutnick (@evanhutnick) March 27, 2017
Police & military clear #DAPL protest camp, dozens arrested, protesters start fires (PHOTOS) https://t.co/JGuP4oWNid
— RT (@RT_com) February 24, 2017
Over 200 people, including journalists, were arrested in the US as protests broke out following Donald Trump’s inauguration on January 20.
READ MORE: ‘Outrage!’ 6 journalists including RT reporter face ‘inappropriate’ rioting charges
Others pointed out America’s questionable foreign policy record, specifically referencing a recent series of US airstrikes on Mosul, Iraq, which have reportedly killed up to 200 civilians.
Just yesterday a U.S. military airstrike struck Mosul and wiped out over 100 innocent civilians. Where's the condemnation?
— Hassan| #SaveSomalia (@HassanPRG) March 27, 2017
READ MORE: US confirms airstrike at site in Mosul where dozens of civilian casualties were reported
The tweet left other social media users convinced an unauthorized party had taken control of the department’s Twitter account.
@StateDept When @POTUS gets done golfing and checks his Twitter feed, somebody's gonna get fired for posting this. Until then, thanks.
— Kevin (@GetOffMyLawnPod) March 27, 2017
@StateDept Has this Tweet been authorised by Secretary Tillerson and/or President Trump? My money says not.
— Michelle Parlett (@muppetwoman) March 27, 2017
@StateDept@lrozen Did the White House really approve you disrespecting Putin this way? Amazing!
— Wilson E. Allen (@Wilson46201) March 27, 2017
