The following letter from Dr. LaToya B. Gathers was sent to the Rhino Times and the FCC. Due to the Holiday weekend, I just saw this and am posting it now. Scott Yost.
Federal Communications Commission
445 12th Street SW
Washington, DC 20554
Dear Commissioners,
I am writing to formally raise concerns about targeted communications and inflammatory public commentary that I believe compromise the integrity of political discourse and may warrant regulatory attention.
On August 30, 2025, the Rhino Times published my op-ed titled “Candidate Says Real Leadership Doesn’t Hide Behind Yard Signs” in its Letters to the Editor section. In this piece, I outlined my commitment to values-driven campaigning—eschewing performative tactics in favor of direct engagement, transparency, and principled leadership.
Following the publication, I have been subjected to inflammatory and coded public comments, particularly from an individual named Al Hare. These remarks have not only targeted me personally but have employed language that others in the community have found offensive, racially charged, and deeply inappropriate. Constituents have expressed concern over the use of veiled descriptors and dog-whistle rhetoric that appear designed to delegitimize my candidacy and identity.
In response, I contacted the Rhino Times and formally requested that the comments be deleted and that the ability to comment on my letter be disabled entirely. Despite multiple attempts to reach out, my communications have been ignored. This lack of response raises serious questions about the platform’s commitment to responsible moderation and its role in enabling targeted harassment of candidates—particularly those from historically marginalized communities.
I respectfully urge the Commission to consider reviewing the standards that govern political communications and comment moderation in digital media spaces, especially during election cycles. My experience reflects a broader pattern of exclusion and coded targeting that threatens the democratic process and the ability of candidates to campaign without harassment or distortion.
Thank you for your attention to this matter. I am available to provide further documentation or context as needed.
Sincerely,
Dr. LaToya B. Gathers
Candidate for Greensboro City Council At-Large
Candidate Says Real Leadership Doesn’t Hide Behind Yard Signs
Welcome to the club.
That’s going to lose you some votes, doc. Anti-free speech is never a good stance to take. Freedom of speech is designed to protect the speech you don’t like, not the speech everyone is ok with. And trying to use the government to silence your dissenters does not play well in the court of public opinion. Lost my vote right there, unfortunately.
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No need to worry about her getting elected, Don. In her last race she finished dead last in a field of four, winning only 10% of votes cast in Goldie Wells’ District (2022 D2 Primary).
She’s obviously unfit for public office, and the voters agree.
The repetitive chanting of her drones in the comment section didn’t help her cause either.
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Really..?? Really… ????
Tell me what I said that triggered you. My comments used no inflammatory or “racially charged” language, because I am no racist. “Prolix platitudes and pablum” is an accurate description of your sophomoric Letter to the Editor.
You’re awfully precious to consider that you are above criticism. As Harry Truman said, “If you can’t stand the heat, get out of the kitchen”. And you’re not even in the kitchen yet.
You can expect criticism if you run for office, and your petulant self-indulgent display of pique does not reflect well on you.
Grow up.
Freedom of speech and the press. This letter offends some, but I don’t see anyone calling for it to come down.
Those who like censorship should talk with Biden or Zuckerberg.
You mean like Trump:
– trying to block freedom of speech of anti-Isreal protests? or really any protest he doesn’t support? ..
– his wanting to arrest journalists that print news he doesn’t like?
– his wanting to approve any scientific papers before being published to make sure it only says things he supports?
– his wanting remove broadcasting licenses of news stations he doesn’t like?
– his wanting to go against SCOTUS precedent on burning of flag by making it a federal crime?
– stripping of funding from universities that don’t follow his policies on diversity and inclusion?
– his pulling funding from law firms who represented clients he doesn’t like?
– he even fires people who present analysis and data that he doesn’t agree with.
But yeah, let the republicans get upset because a private business wanted to fact check false information spreading across its platform.
Just more conservative hypocrisy.
No President has assaulted the US Constitution more than Donald Trump. Especially the 1st Amendment of the US Constitution.