So many trolls flooded a Democratic Convention Native American Caucus meeting where Elizabeth Warren was slated to speak that organizers disabled a chatroom accompanying the livestreamed event.
The Trump campaign and other conservatives on social media pointed out that the Massachusetts senator would be speaking at the event on Tuesday while alluding to Warren’s previous claims to Native American ancestry.
Some critics of Warren noticed that the sidebar chat in the convention room was accessible to anyone, some on Twitter encouraged others to join and post criticisms of Warren.
Posters sent messages referencing Pocahontas, a slur that President Trump uses when talking about Warren; “1/1024,” a reference to the small amount of Native American ancestry Warren could have based on a 2018 DNA test that showed she has a Native American ancestor six to 10 generations ago; and sent dozens of snake emojis, a way of calling Warren a “snake.”
“Hi my name is Elizabeth Warren and I’m here to take your culture for my own personal benefit,” read one message from someone who identified as “Chief White Snake.”
Others in the chatroom condemned those bad-mouthing Warren.
“Please be respectful. No matter your opinion on Sen Warren’s heritage, she established one of the strongest platforms for Indian Country,” said an attendee identified as Dr. Aaron Payment. “Please do not alienate her. We need all the help we can get.”
Organizers were apparently trying to manage the flood of trolls. About a half-hour into the event, before Warren was slated to speak, organizers disabled the chat.
“They disabled the chat! We’ve singlehandedly set a new land speed record for bullying the DNC into silencing free speech!” one person who had been encouraging the trolls said in a tweet.
Warren has long faced intense criticism for her claims to Native American heritage and family lore that her parents eloped due to her mother being part “Cherokee and Delaware.” She listed herself as an “American Indian” on her Texas State Bar card and contributed recipes to a “Pow Wow Chow” cookbook. Trump often calls Warren “Pocahontas” in reference to the claims.
In 2018, Warren took and made public a DNA test that found she had overwhelming European ancestry and one Native American ancestor six to 10 generations back, making her as little as 1/1024 in Native American heritage. After enduring criticism, Warren repeatedly apologized for identifying herself as a minority.
In a speech at the event, Warren said that Trump disrespects Native American tribes, referencing his administration revoking reservation status for the Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe.
“I say it’s time to have a president who will fight even harder, but this time to protect Indian country. With Joe Biden in office, Indian country will not need to worry about that kind of disrespect any longer. Joe Biden understands and will honor the United States moral and legal obligations to tribal nations,” Warren said.
Warren was not the only non-Native American person to speak at the event. New Jersey Sen. Cory Booker also delivered a speech. The first two Native American women elected to Congress, Reps. Deb Haaland of New Mexico and Sharice Davids of Kansas, also spoke at the event.
