Google-owned YouTube removes video of Republican Nicole Malliotakis announcing lawsuit against Mayor de Blasio for NYC vaccine passport scheme
YouTube has removed a video from a Republican lawmaker in which she says she announced she was suing Mayor Bill de Blasio for his vaccine passport scheme in New York.
'I'm the latest victim of big tech censorship,' Rep. Nicole Malliotakis tweeted.
'YouTube removed the video of my press conference announcing our lawsuit against @NYCMayor's vaccine passport claiming it "violates community guidelines." My office reached out to YouTube asking why and all we've heard back is crickets.'
Users who click on the link to the video are met with a message informing them: 'This video has been removed for violating YouTube's Community Guidelines.'
Democrat Mayor de Blasio this month made New York City the first place in the U.S. to mandate vaccine passports for indoor public places.
'I'm the latest victim of big tech censorship,' Rep. Nicole Malliotakis (pictured in Washington in May) tweeted
Democrat Mayor Bill de Blasio this month made New York City the first place in the U.S. to mandate vaccine passports for indoor public places
Users who click on the link to the video are met with a message informing them: 'This video has been removed for violating YouTube's Community Guidelines'
'It is so important to make clear that if you are vaccinated, you get to benefit in all sorts of ways. You get to live a better life,' de Blasio said as he announced the new rule.
He added: 'And if you're unvaccinated, there are going to be fewer and fewer things that you're able to do.'
The move was immediately slammed by Republicans who argue that vaccine passports are unconstitutional.
Joe Biden and his administration have been adamant that there will not be a federal-level vaccine passport or mandate, but have made it clear they support local government and private entities imposing the measures.
Malliotakis released a statement on her website to announce the lawsuit, writing: 'The Mayor's vaccine mandate is an overreach of government.
'The government should not be imposing such a mandate on its people and small business owners.
'We have received calls from countless individuals that we represent - both vaccinated and unvaccinated - who are concerned about sharing personal health information with individuals they don't know, or fearing they will be left out of society because their doctors recommended they do not get vaccinated due to other medical issues.
'It is beyond ridiculous that the government is mandating these already struggling small business owners to be the city's 'vaccine police.'
'I'm here today with my colleagues, constituents, and community leaders to say to the Mayor: rescind this vaccine passport requirement or we will sue you. We will not accept this type of government control and intervention in our lives.'
So-called 'vaccine passports' have been a hot topic since the jab became available to all Americans over the age of 12 in May. Red states have been fighting the measure
The majority of Democrats feel people should be required to show proof of vaccination before entering indoor spaces like restaurants, gyms and theaters, but only 29 per cent of Republicans feel the same way
De Blasio decided not to follow suit of other large urban areas, like Los Angeles and Washington D.C., which have reimposed mask mandates at indoor spaces regardless of vaccination status.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention released new guidance last month stating that high case-rate areas should reimpose indoor masking on the vaccinated.
The rule change came as the highly contagious Delta variant and breakthrough cases in vaccinated people continues to surge.
On Friday, the White House announced that 50 per cent of the entire U.S. population is now fully vaccinated against coronavirus – this includes children, even though those under 12 cannot get the vaccine.
Vaccination rates plateaued over the summer after the vaccine opened up to everyone over the age of 12 in May.
Hesitant communities, the administration is finding, are hard to persuade to get the jab.
Some of the higher rates of hesitancy comes from southern states, Republicans, young people and minority communities.