Canada: CFWIJ Condemns The Online Attacks Against Mercedes Stephenson and Rachel Gilmore

Threats
Written By 
Location: Canada, Ottawa
Date: January 28, 2022

Journalists Mercedes Stephenson and Rachel Gilmore are facing concentrated organized online harassment through their social media as well as online accounts. The journalists took to their Twitter accounts to highlight the vile attacks they are being targeted with. It is not apparent what led to the attacks against their person, in particular. However, elsewhere right wing politician Maxime Bernier has once again tweeted against the journalist community at large, a move that has historically led to journalists receiving hateful backlash from his support base.

 
 
 
 
 
 

In a series of tweets, Mercedes Stephenson drew attention to the onslaught of hate that she has been receiving from what appear to be supporters of right-wing politics. The messages are abusive in nature, targeting her personally as well as professionally. Several claim that in her role as a journalist Mercedes is acting against public interest while others have targeted her with deeply vile and gendered remarks. 


Rachel Gilmore faced similar attacks on her accounts as well, stating that not only has she been receiving vile abuse from certain sections of the Twitter user base, her loved ones are also being harassed due to their association with her. In one of her tweets she also highlighted how cumbersome it is to constantly ask for police protection for merely doing her job.

While none of the messages indicate one incident that triggered this attack, elsewhere right-wing politician Maxime Bernier has once again incited his support base against the press community in the country.

Last year, a similar act by the politician led to over 20 women journalists being targeted through an organized hate campaign. They came forward, sharing screenshots of the abuse they received as a result of Bernier unjustifiably instigating his support base against the press. The journalists work for different organizations and cover different beats, and have been solely targeted with vile racist and sexist rhetoric. 

In one of her tweets, Mercedes reminds her audience that while all journalistic work is open to criticism, threatening and abusing the person behind it crosses an important moral and legal line.

The Coalition For Women In Journalism extends its complete support to Merecedes Stephenson and Rachel Gilmore, and demands an investigation into the issue. The attacks appear to be coordinated and planned and the law enforcement authorities need to hold accountable whoever is responsible for it. We condemn the actions of Maxime Bernier whose reckless and insensitive tweets led to the entire press community feeling vulnerable to hate and threats. 

 

The Coalition For Women In Journalism is a global organization of support for women journalists. The CFWIJ pioneered mentorship for mid-career women journalists across several countries around the world and is the first organization to focus on the status of free press for women journalists. We thoroughly document cases of any form of abuse against women in any part of the globe. Our system of individuals and organizations brings together the experience and mentorship necessary to help female career journalists navigate the industry. Our goal is to help develop a strong mechanism where women journalists can work safely and thrive.

If you have been harassed or abused in any way, and please report the incident by using the following form.

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