Mckesson laments loss of Twitter as core protest tool

DeRay Mckesson says the disappearance of Twitter as a primary organizing hub has left activists without a critical speed advantage.

The Campaign Zero executive director made the assessment Tuesday at Web Summit in Lisbon. He stated, “I miss Twitter. Twitter rest in peace. It was such a powerful platform for us back then.” Mckesson rose to prominence as a Black Lives Matter leader in 2014 and opposes police violence. He discussed the shift in digital strategy during a webcast moderated by Maer Roshan.

Mckesson identified specific changes in platform mechanics that alter how protests form. He noted that Twitter and Vine allowed for rapid mobilization before Elon Musk renamed the service to X. Current platforms like Instagram and TikTok favor polished video content. This format requires more time to produce and distribute. That delay separates the digital process from the real-time posting that defined earlier organizing efforts.

The change in tools has not eliminated effectiveness in other areas. Mckesson pointed to the recent U.S. midterm elections as evidence that campaigners can successfully use Instagram and TikTok to discuss candidates. He highlighted the influence of New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani, who used an influencer operation to make affordability a top issue for voters. These platforms have opened storytelling to a larger audience, he argued.

Mckesson linked the wider reach of social justice creators to growing public fatigue with Donald Trump. He identified immigration enforcement as a major driver of this backlash. Protests followed arrests by hooded agents at school graduations and birthday parties across the country. He noted that opposition to ICE now extends well beyond the smaller activist circles of 2014 and 2015. Journalists are also playing a larger role. Reporters are questioning deaths in jails with a level of scrutiny that was less common in the past.

Now a podcaster, Mckesson co-hosts Crooked Media’s Pod Save the People. The show addresses social justice, culture, and politics. He said reaching listeners who already share his concerns remains valuable for advocating for people of color. “The choir needs good messaging,” he said. Audiences are better able to engage with nuanced discussions than they were in 2014.