We have the power to stop xenophobic attacks

Someone tweeted me the other day: "Darren, we really need to get behind the Say #NoToXenophobia social media campaign!”

I couldn’t agree more but it did get me thinking… We are very vocal on social media when it comes to campaigns. Think about:
 
After the horrific killings at the French satiric cartoon (Charlie Hebdo) headquarters became #JeSuisCharlie

After the frightening abduction in Nigeria of 300 school girls by Boko Haram became #BringBackOurGirls

And in a less violent but equally powerful social media initiative; after centuries of colonial inequality - some young South Africans wanted the painful iconography of our landscape changed with #RhodesMustFall

What do these three campaigns have in common?
Two things:
1.       They are very clear in the message of the campaigns.
2.       They all started AFTER the fact.

I believe we should try and get on top of these campaigns before the horror and destruction and loss actually manifest.

We should shout and plead and demand change on social media platforms before these heinous acts shock us out of our apathy.
 
How do we do this?

We call our leaders out when they say things we don’t agree with, when they say things which we know are polarising, when they do things which we can literally anticipate will precipitate a negative response.  

We need to campaign it and hashtag it and be very clear that we do not agree with them, before the madding crowd latch onto the negativity and act out their more base fears because an 'authority' has given them license and approval.
 
When King Goodwill Zwelithini said we should send the foreigners back home: That very second (at least when the accurate translation emerged) we should have been campaigning to shut him up or to get him to retract his statement or God forbid – apologise!

We should have had the hashtag #TheKingIsWrong or #NotMyKing or #KingBadwillZwelithini.
 
When non-scientists and popular career politicians say there is no such thing as man-made climate change we should have the Hashtag #LiarLiarBushIsOnFire  or #BringBackOurPlanet.
 
When the Pope lets North Africans contract HIV by the millions because he won’t endorse contraception we need to start the campaign #ThePopeIsADope or #NoGloveNoLove or #BlessCondoms.
 
Social media campaigns are powerful!  Let’s use them - let’s start the groundswell in what we believe is right. Now! We've proven that we are very good at getting behind a cause  - often too late, so let's get behind the cause before the horse has bolted. #BoltTheBarnDoors 

#Justsaying