irbnb is cancelling accounts of far-right activists who appear to have booked reservations in the US state of Virginia before a rally that neo-Nazis and white supremacists are expected to attend.
The march, which is set to take place in Charlottesville on Saturday, has been dubbed "Unite the Right" by organisers and was called to support a local statue of Robert E Lee, the Confederacy's foremost military leader during the US Civil War.
Among those slated to speak are far-right figures such as Jason Kessler - who claims to be an organiser of the march - and Richard Spencer, a leader in the alt-right movement.
Hundreds are expected to attend the highly publicised rally
In a statement provided to the local NBC29 news station, the holiday rental company Airbnb said its rules require that "members of the Airbnb community accept people regardless of their race, religion, national origin, ethnicity, disability, sex, gender identity, sexual orientation or age".
The statement added that when patrons violate the terms of service, Airbnb seeks "to take appropriate action including, as in this case, removing them from the platform".
Kessler, a former journalist and well-known far-right activist, took to Twitter to decry Airbnb's decision, saying: "It's time for the alt-right to flex its muscles and boycott" the company.
He also said potential legal action against Airbnb should be considered.
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Jason Kessler @TheMadDimension
It's time for the #AltRight to flex its muscles and boycott @Airbnb. Also need to consider a lawsuit #UniteTheRighthttp://www.occidentaldissent.com/2017/08/07/airbnb-renting-houses-to-the-alt-right-for-unitetheright-is-a-tos-violation/ …
8:35 PM - Aug 7, 2017
Photo published for AirBnb: Renting Houses To The Alt-Right For #UniteTheRight Is a TOS Violation
AirBnb: Renting Houses To The Alt-Right For #UniteTheRight Is a TOS Violation
Housing discrimination is social justice
occidentaldissent.com
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But other social media users mocked the far rightists and balked at the assertion that Airbnb ought to be obliged to provide a service for the attendees.
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Lacy MacAuley
LOL. White nationalist Jason Kessler wants to force @AirBnB users to open their homes to Nazis, KKK etc? Typical white boy entitlement. #A12
…https://twitter.com/TheMadDimension/status/894615540660137985
- TheMadDimension
8:02 PM - Aug 7, 2017
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someecards ✔
Nazis are whining that Airbnb won't rent to them for a rally. Boo f-ing hoo. http://go.some.ly/C6DvD46
11:26 PM - Aug 7, 2017
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The rally will be the third of its kind in Charlottesville in the past four months.
In May, Richard Spencer led a rally of dozens of torch-wielding protesters. They were outnumbered by hundreds of counter-protesters.
Last month, dozens of members of the Ku Klux Klan, the white supremacist group with a history of violent attacks on African Americans, rallied at Charlottesville's Confederate monument.