United States: Anti-Google marches planned for August 19 postponed /update 2

Event

Events associated with the planned “Peaceful March on Google” scheduled for Saturday, August 19, in ten cities across the country have been postponed to an unspecified date. Jack Posobiec, the organizer of the events, announced on Tuesday, August 15, that the rallies would be postponed due to threats against the demonstrators. Demonstrations were originally planned outside Google offices in Boston (Massachusetts), Mountain View (California), Los Angeles (California), Boulder (Colorado), New York City, Washington D.C., Austin (Texas), Atlanta (Georgia), Pittsburgh (Pennsylvania), and Kirkland (Washington). Additional “free speech” rallies are still set to take place on the Boston Common on August 19.

Context

“Alt-right” activists were planning the rallies in opposition to Google's alleged use of its power to silence dissenting voices, including those in the right-wing alt-right community. The organizers also stated that they are protesting the firing of James Damore, a Google employee who was sacked after writing a controversial diversity memo and distributing it within the company. Leaders of the March Against Google issued a public statement condemning the violence that erupted at the August 12 rally in Charlottesville and denying any alleged associations with the white supremacist organizations that planned that event.

Tensions are high across the country after violence broke out at a Unite the Right rally organized by white-supremacist groups in Charlottesville on August 12. One person was killed and at least another 19 injured when an assailant identified as a white nationalist intentionally drove a car into a group of counterprotesters. Confrontations between right-wing demonstrators and counterprotesters were also reported on August 11 and 12, leading to multiple injuries and arrests.

Advice

Individuals across the United States are advised to avoid all demonstrations as violence may flare up without warning. Monitor local news for up-to-date information regarding the location of any demonstrations and anticipate traffic disruptions in the vicinity of any such gatherings.