Twitter briefly suspended former KKK leader David Duke and took away his followers
Twitter / Business Insider screenshot
Twitter briefly suspended the account belonging to David Duke on Monday, after the former Ku Klux Klan leader traded insults with actor Chris Evans early last month.
While the suspension of Duke's account was brief, it appears as though Twitter reset the white nationalist's follower account. Duke had around 32,000 Twitter followers as of late February, and as of Monday his follower count had been reset to zero.
"I'm back," Duke wrote in a tweet on Monday after his account was reinstated. "Though I have no idea why I was suspended. Thank you to all of the wonderful people who offered support."
A Twitter spokesperson wasn't immediately available to comment.
Duke, a Holocaust-denier and outspoken Trump supporter, is the latest in a string of far-right figures to be suspended from Twitter in recent months. Twitter suspended and later reinstated white nationalist Richard Spencer in December, and the social network permanently banned Milo Yiannopoulos last summer.
Twitter has lately taken more steps to curb harassment and abuse on its platform, including temporarily throttling the reach of accounts it deems to be violating its rules.
David Duke's account has been suspended. pic.twitter.com/vb6CgWtaLI
- Kyle Griffin (@kylegriffin1) March 6, 2017
I'm back. Though I have no idea why I was suspended. Thank you to all of the wonderful people who offered support. #FreeDavidDuke
- David Duke (@DrDavidDuke) March 6, 2017
True political dissent is always controversial. Freedom of speech is paramount. Thank You all for your huge wave of support for free speech.
- David Duke (@DrDavidDuke) March 6, 2017
Never had my account verified, though everyone knows this account is mine. Hopefully one day I'll get the blue check. https://t.co/o3t8K2zk4u
- David Duke (@DrDavidDuke) March 6, 2017
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