Read on Twitter
I know most of my followers don’t care about what Mexican politics, but what’s happening right now between AMLO, his wife, and @ChumelTorres deserves to be talked about everywhere.
This is AMLO's latest tyrannical attack on freedom of speech.
/THREAD/
This is AMLO's latest tyrannical attack on freedom of speech.
/THREAD/
For those unfamiliar with his work, which I guess is most of you, @ChumelTorres is a Mexican comedian.
He hosts El Pulso de La Republica on YouTube, which is similar to Stephen Colbert’s monologue, and also hosts CHUMEL on HBO, a Mexican Version of Last Week Tonight.
He hosts El Pulso de La Republica on YouTube, which is similar to Stephen Colbert’s monologue, and also hosts CHUMEL on HBO, a Mexican Version of Last Week Tonight.
He became famous for leveling criticism against the previous President, @EPN. For that, he was loved by AMLO supporters.
When AMLO won, Chumel rightly began to held him to account as the elected President. He quickly became AMLO and his supporters’ public enemy #1.
When AMLO won, Chumel rightly began to held him to account as the elected President. He quickly became AMLO and his supporters’ public enemy #1.
Once it became known that AMLO, who portrayed himself as a working class icon and pretended to be relatively poor, was paying for expensive trips and a private school for his youngest son. His family quickly came into the highlight.
AMLO's youngest was labelled "Chocoflan" (Chocolate flan) by the public because of his bi-colored hair dye. Chumel, as most other comedians, ran with this nickname when referring to him in covering the scandal.
Now, was the kid deserving of an internet nickname? Probably not, but it's part of being part of the first family.
Just as people sometimes label Barron, the public labelled this kid. It wasn't even a particularly offensive nickname.
Just as people sometimes label Barron, the public labelled this kid. It wasn't even a particularly offensive nickname.
Fast forward to today, and with the world re-evaluating racism, CONAPRED, Mexico's national council to prevent discrimination, was holding a forum on race.
Chumel was invited to speak, as were many other high profile political commentators.
Chumel was invited to speak, as were many other high profile political commentators.
This is when Beatriz Müller, AMLO's wife, intervened to have Chumel disinvited over his comments about her son.
When she failed, AMLO pressured CONAPRED to cancel the forum. The head of the council resigned in protest.
When she failed, AMLO pressured CONAPRED to cancel the forum. The head of the council resigned in protest.
AMLO's administration continued leading a public attack on Chumel, spearheaded by Beatriz Müller, and they've been successful.
While HBO has suspended Chumel's show, YouTube is being pressured to ban his channel.
While HBO has suspended Chumel's show, YouTube is being pressured to ban his channel.
This isn't AMLO's first attack on critics. Like another wannabe dictator that we're all familiar with, AMLO has labelled all of them fake news and said they serve the deep state.
His supporters have also been sucked into this war against the media.
His supporters have also been sucked into this war against the media.
PROCESO, a left-leaning magazine who was applauded by AMLO and his supporters for it's reporting on @EPN, was denounced as propaganda after a single negative article on AMLO. High profile journalists faced the same fate.
This is all happening in one of the most dangerous countries for journalists, where reporters risk their life by reporting on anything.
While we knew AMLO was waging a war against traditional media, this latest move is an attempt to also destroy independent media and journalists.
Excreting control over established channels is not enough, he will pursue anyone who presents a dissenting opinion.
Excreting control over established channels is not enough, he will pursue anyone who presents a dissenting opinion.
As I said, I know most of you do not care about what's happening in Mexico, but it is important to highlight threats to freedom.
There is a reason that Trump and AMLO like each other, they are both demagogues who will do anything to remain in power. We can't let them.
There is a reason that Trump and AMLO like each other, they are both demagogues who will do anything to remain in power. We can't let them.
