Laura Loomer
Banned for Hate Speech, Spreads Conspiracy
Laura Loomer is a far-right political activist and media commentator who has been banned from numerous mainstream digital platforms and services. The platforms that have removed or suspended her include Twitter (later reinstated by new ownership), Facebook, Instagram, Uber, Lyft, PayPal, Venmo, GoFundMe, and Medium. Platform representatives cited anti-Muslim statements and spreading of conspiracy theories as primary grounds for the bans. Loomer has characterized her deplatforming as politically motivated censorship targeting conservative voices.
Among the statements cited in connection with her platform bans, Loomer posted content describing Islam as a "cancer on humanity" and made broad derogatory claims about Muslim people. Following her Twitter ban in 2018, Loomer handcuffed herself to the entrance of Twitter's New York headquarters while wearing a yellow Star of David, drawing a comparison to Holocaust victims. Jewish organizations condemned the comparison; Loomer maintained she was making a point about the severity of censorship.
Loomer has promoted conspiracy theories related to elections and other political events, including claims about the 2020 presidential election and various mass casualty events. She ran for office on multiple occasions as a Republican candidate and has sought to build political influence in conservative circles. As of 2024, she had gained access to prominent political figures and events, which some political observers noted as evidence of her influence within certain segments of the Republican Party. Critics described her access as legitimizing views that mainstream institutions had found to violate basic standards.
Loomer has maintained that her commentary represents legitimate political speech that was suppressed by platforms with political bias. Her supporters regard her as a bold voice willing to say what others will not. Her critics argue her statements about religious groups and her promotion of conspiracy theories crossed the line from political commentary into content that causes demonstrable harm to targeted communities.