COVENTRY Youth Activists (CYA) have won a national campaigners award after challenging Facebook’s protocols in dealing with hate speech targeted at people with disabilities.
CYA has claimed the David and Goliath award, which celebrates small campaign groups taking on bigger organisations.
They were announced as the winners at the SMK Campaigners Awards ceremony which was live streamed from London earlier today.
They took action against the social media giants last October, holding a day-long protest in London outside Meta’s offices when they failed to respond to calls for change.
They returned to London last month to meet Coventry North West MP Taiwo Owatemi at the Houses of Parliament, during which they heard the debate on the upcoming Online Safety Bill in the House of Commons.
CYA is part of Grapevine’s #ShiftingPower action strand and has been funded by the Paul Hamlyn Foundation.
Joey Mander from CYA said: “It’s so exciting and an honour to win this award, especially as this category, the David and Goliath Award, suits CYA so well.”
Grapevine community organiser, Molly Gillespie added: “CYA has worked tirelessly to campaign to change things for good for disabled people using Facebook around the world.
“From its inception to our protest outside Meta’s London offices, the inspiration, energy and determination behind this campaign comes directly from them. We are proud to support them all the way.”
