Anti-Militia Group Lawsuit Targets Facebook, Local Organizers

MADISON, Wis. (WLIP & AP) — Four people filed a federal lawsuit Wednesday demanding that Facebook prevent militias and hate groups from using the site, after a militia group used the platform to draw armed people to protests in Wisconsin last month that left two people dead.

The plaintiffs, including the partner of one of the slain men, contend in their lawsuit filed Wednesday that Facebook received more than 400 complaints about a militia group’s post but that its moderators decided the post didn’t violate the company’s policies.

The self-styled leader of the militia group, former Kenosha Alderperson Kevin Matthewson, is also named in the suit.

The group called on armed people to guard property in Kenosha after the first two nights of violence following the police shooting of Jacob Blake.

17-year-old Kyle Rittenhouse of Antioch is charged with killing two protesters.