Washington, D.C. – With a focus on tackling the rising threats of anti-immigrant rhetoric and disinformation targeting young people across online spaces, this week the young leaders of United We Dream Action launched the second season of their innovative Gamer Intervention Program on Twitch, Discord, TikTok and YouTube.
The program –which launched in response to critical research conducted by UWDA and Harmony Labs that found that Latino men aged 18-35 are particularly vulnerable to anti-immigrant misinformation, radicalization, and right-wing propaganda in virtual spaces– aims to train gaming influencers to become trusted messengers on their platforms. By building up the power of some of the most influential streamers in the gaming world to engage in authentic, pro-immigrant conversations with their base and raise awareness about the most pressing issues for our communities, United We Dream Action continues to meet young Latino men and young people of color where they are and activate them to reclaim their power as leaders and build pro-immigrant futures.
To read more about UWDA’s Gamer Program, check out our feature in Teen Vogue.
Juanita Monsalve, Senior Marketing & Creative Director of United We Dream Action, said:
“Now more than ever, the rise in racialized disinformation poses an existential threat to Black, Brown, and immigrant communities, and this threat is growing more deadly every day. Words matter, and they can either lead to building safer, more welcoming communities or fuel hate, division and violence. Just last week, we witnessed how dangerous, dehumanizing anti-Black and anti-immigrant rhetoric escalated into bomb threats targeting Haitian migrants in Springfield, Ohio. Never in our history have officials been the ones who have saved us against these threats; it’s always been our people who have heeded the call to protect each other.
As we witness more and more young gamers –especially young men in our own communities and families– being targeted by the disinformation, we refuse to wait on the sidelines to take action. We are strategists, we are innovators, and we are directly impacted leaders who are uniquely positioned to create powerful narratives to meet our communities where they are, both on the streets and online.
The young leaders of United We Dream Action have always been at the vanguard of taking a bold stance against anti-immigrant disinformation and keeping our communities safe and we’re not stopping now. We are here to reclaim the web and build our collective power.”
Víctor Guillén Febres, Communications & Counter-disinformation Strategist of United We Dream Action, said:
“Racialized disinformation isn’t just an online problem or an issue of a few lies; it has fueled deadly violence like the shootings in El Paso, Texas, and Buffalo, New York, and paved the way for dangerous state-led anti-immigrant laws in Texas, Arizona, Florida and more. Anti-immigrant bad actors are well aware of this, and they’re determined to infiltrate online spaces like gaming to target young Latino men. We will not stay on the sidelines while these actors and their racist, dehumanizing lies try to infiltrate the very spaces where young people in our communities, including our friends, neighbors, and families– spend their time. As a young Latino myself, I’ve seen my own friends get radicalized in real time on platforms like Twitch and Discord.
The leaders of United We Dream Action continue to be the changemakers we need right now, and our care for one another is our greatest strength. To build the pro-immigrant future we envision, we must meet young people where they are and organize both online and offline. From now until the end of the year, our Gamer Intervention Program will transform dozens of online streamers and influencers on Twitch, Discord, TikTok, and YouTube into trusted pro-immigrant messengers, helping to build power for our communities and combat harmful lies that aim to sow hate and divide our people. No matter what, our movement will continue to fight to protect our families and loved ones, in any space. To the bad actors trying to target us, we’re ready: game on!”