Mark Slapinski
Jordan Peterson slammed Twitter after it inexplicably censored up-and-coming Canadian journalist Andy Lee aka @Hannah_Bananaz shortly after visiting Ottawa to report on the trucker convoy. Twitter stated in an e-mail that Andy Lee was permanently suspended from Twitter for “ban evasion,” which she strongly denies. She is currently appealing her suspension.
Andy Lee is an independent journalist based out of Calgary, Alberta, known for writing highly engaging Twitter threads, focusing specifically on Justin Trudeau and his links to the Chinese government. On Saturday she found herself locked out of her account, having been permanently suspended for “ban evasion.” Andy Lee denies having been previously banned, and is currently appealing her suspension to Twitter. The timing of the ban was suspicious as Andy Lee was in Ottawa in late January reporting on the trucker convoy. Just prior to her ban, she was providing commentary on the convoy protests happening across the country. Andy Lee believes she was targeted, speculating the RCMP may have been involved.
In response, multiple conservative commentators, including Jordan Peterson and Spencer Fernando spoke out in her defence. Peterson took a harsh tone with Twitter, labelling the move as censorship, before daring Twitter to suspend him, too. He then added he wants Andy Lee to come back so he can “hear what she thinks.”
Spencer Fernando, a popular columnist and blogger, wrote that he was in contact with Andy Lee, noting that her suspension was permanent. Twitter users were noticeably shocked to hear the news, with one person describing it as “blatant censorship.” Another Twitter user, @YukonStrong, made a video to raise awareness of the situation, and attached the hashtag #SaveAndy, which caught on in the Canadian conservative community. Many people have used the hashtag, demanding Twitter reverse her suspension.
Other accounts have popped up on Twitter claiming to be Andy Lee, but she insists these are fake and should be reported.
Author’s note: I was banned from Twitter at the same time Andy Lee was, and for the same reason: “ban evasion.” While I do operate two other Twitter accounts, I have never had an account banned before. Like Andy Lee, I have appealed Twitter’s decision.
