Russian-linked group sold merchandise online

[SoCalNative]

"Young, gifted and black." "Melanin and muscles." "Our sons matter." The slogans on the clothing that a group called "Blacktivist" offered for sale through Facebook were supposed to look like they came from American Black Lives Matter activists. But they were in fact being promoted by a Russian-linked group working to amplify political discord in the U.S. before the presidential election.

CNN first reported last week that "Blacktivist" accounts on Facebook and Twitter had regularly shared content intended to stoke outrage in an apparent attempt to amplify racial tensions during the U.S. presidential election. The accounts have been suspended and are among those handed over to Congress as part of its investigation into Russia's meddling in the 2016 presidential election.

The page appears to have sold fewer than 100 items of Blacktivist-branded merchandise, but the actual amount of clothing sold is less significant than what the effort represented: A move by the people behind Blacktivist to go beyond social media and spread their influence into the physical world. The Blacktivist Facebook page also promoted at least seven rallies and demonstrations around the U.S. in 2016.

http://money.cnn.com/2017/10/06/media/blacktivist-merchandise-facebook-russia/index.html

[procon]

1. What is the government doing to eliminate these foreign incursions?

Trump keeps denying everything that involves Russia's cyber invasion. His Republican toadies in congress are so terrified of being subjected to his rage, or the threat of being primaried by their rabid base, that they can't even mention Russian without opening up a can of worms swirling around Trump's legitimacy.