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No, these nude women are not 'Democrats campaigning'
Are Democrats "For the People" or for the nudists?
A Facebook post featuring an image of three naked women photographed from behind suggests the latter. The women are wearing sun hats and shoes, and two have megaphones slung over their shoulders. But they’re not blockwalking—they’re facing what appear to be police and riot officers, who are standing on the other side of some makeshift fencing.
"Democrats campaigning!" the Nov. 3 posts says. The next line is followed by an emoji vomiting: "Showing a brilliant statement to gain your vote."
This story was flagged as part of Facebook’s efforts to combat false news and misinformation on its News Feed. (Read more about our partnership with Facebook.)
A reverse Google image search quickly shows that the photo is more than a decade old. Photographer Juan Barreto took it for Agence France-Presse on May 16, 2005. The naked women were part of a protest over land rights, and Barreto captured them at the entrance of the presidential residence in Mexico City.
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In Vermont, a group of women did recently take their clothes off in hopes of boosting voter participation there and elsewhere in the country. Ten women "stripped, held ballots in strategic positions, and let a photographer snap their images in an attempt to convince people to vote on Tuesday," Minnesota Public Radio reported.
On Oct. 30, the group posted a mission statement to a Facebook page called Grab Them By The Ballot, named for the get-out-the-vote campaign. It touches on progressive causes and concerns, but doesn’t mention Democrats.
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"With the #MeToo and #Wetoo movements and recent confirmation of Brett Kavanaugh there is much at stake in the upcoming elections," the mission statement says. "This group of courageous Vermont women came together in a vulnerable artistic expression to protect al women’s right to choose regarding their body, health, reproductive rights and sexual expression. We joined hands as an outcry against the collective sexual and emotional abuse and trauma endemic in our society. And to champion the rights of marginalized women including transgender people, women of color and physically ‘disabled’ women."
Publications including Fox News, the Daily Mail, and The Sun reported that the group was seeking votes for Democrats.
While there is a campaign featuring nude women supporting historically liberal causes, the Facebook claimed that the three women in the photograph were Democrats campaigning. They were activists protesting in Mexico City, and it wasn’t a get-out-the-vote campaign.
We rate this claim False.
Our Sources
Facebook post, Nov. 3
Getty Images photo of naked women, May 16, 2005
Politico, "House Dems unveil new midterm campaign slogan," July 18, 2018
Fox News, "Women pose naked in ‘grab them by the ballot’ photo shoot to encourage votes for Democrats," Nov. 3, 2018
Grab Them By The Ballot Facebook page, visited Nov. 5, 2018
The Associated Press, "Naked protest over land dispute," May 17, 2005
Minnesota Public Radio, "Women use their bodies in get-out-the-vote campaign," Nov. 2, 2018
The Sun, "Grab Me By The Ballot: Trump-hating women strip totally naked and pose with US flags in bizarre bid to get voters to back Democrats at the midterms," Nov. 1, 2018
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No, these nude women are not 'Democrats campaigning'
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