This was the alt-right’s favorite chat app. Then came Charlottesville.

This was the alt-right’s favorite chat app. Then came Charlottesville.

7 years ago
Anonymous $Gu9VYqcl-R

https://www.cnbc.com/2017/08/15/discord-gaming-chat-app-popular-with-alt-right-until-charlottesville-rally.html

They posted swastikas and praised Hitler in chat rooms with names like "National Socialist Army" and "Führer's Gas Chamber." They organized last weekend's "Unite the Right" rally in Charlottesville, Va., connecting several major white supremacy groups for an intimidating display of force. And when that rally turned deadly, with the killing of a 32-year-old counterdemonstrator, they cheered and discussed holding a gathering at the woman's funeral.

For two months before the Charlottesville rally, I embedded with a large group of white nationalists on Discord, a group chat app that was popular among far-right activists. I lurked silently and saw these activists organize themselves into a cohesive coalition, and interviewed a number of moderators and members about how they used the service to craft and propagate their messages.

This was the alt-right’s favorite chat app. Then came Charlottesville.

Aug 16, 2017, 12:11am UTC
https://www.cnbc.com/2017/08/15/discord-gaming-chat-app-popular-with-alt-right-until-charlottesville-rally.html >They posted swastikas and praised Hitler in chat rooms with names like "National Socialist Army" and "Führer's Gas Chamber." They organized last weekend's "Unite the Right" rally in Charlottesville, Va., connecting several major white supremacy groups for an intimidating display of force. And when that rally turned deadly, with the killing of a 32-year-old counterdemonstrator, they cheered and discussed holding a gathering at the woman's funeral. >For two months before the Charlottesville rally, I embedded with a large group of white nationalists on Discord, a group chat app that was popular among far-right activists. I lurked silently and saw these activists organize themselves into a cohesive coalition, and interviewed a number of moderators and members about how they used the service to craft and propagate their messages.