The hate group just got the boot.

Account Killer

On August 24, a representative of the social media activism organization Sleeping Giants tweeted screenshots showing that Ku Klux Klan supporters could donate to the hate group via PayPal.

Six days later, the digital payments platform suspended the white supremacist group's account — hindering its ability to raise funds to spread its hateful message.

Funding Hate

PayPal didn't announce the suspension of the Loyal White Knights of the Ku Klux Klan's account, with a company spokesperson telling BBC News that it "cannot comment on any specific PayPal customer's account."

However, the spokesperson did note that the company's services cannot be used "to promote hate, violence, or other forms of intolerance that are discriminatory" — and as of Friday, the KKK donation page features a notice claiming the recipient is "currently unable to receive money."

Money Matters

The KKK planned to use donations to pay newsletter postage and fund public rallies, BBC News reported, so cutting off one of the channels through which it raises funds could stymie those efforts.

Still, Sleeping Giants appears concerned that PayPal didn't catch the hate group's account proactively.

"Good that @PayPal suspended the KKK’s account," Sleeping Giants tweeted on Monday, "but pretty crazy that a volunteer campaign on social media needs to do this job for companies making hundreds of millions of dollars."

READ MORE: Ku Klux Klan donation account suspended by PayPal [BBC News]

More on hate groups: Slack Just Removed a Bunch of Hate Groups


Share This Article