Standing Up for Truth: Why We Need a People's March

In a world where falsehoods can spread like wildfire, it's crucial to stand up for the truth. As we approach the second inauguration of Donald Trump, it's important to reflect on how lies and disinformation have become a serious problem. The People's March, happening on January 18, is a step in the right direction. It aims to bring people together to fight for fairness, justice, and equality. But it's time to take it a step further and turn it into the People's March For Truth. We need a day dedicated to stopping lies from masquerading as truth in social media, real life, and politics. Meta, the company behind Facebook, WhatsApp, and Instagram, has stopped fact-checking content on its platforms. Instead, it's relying on Community Notes. This means lies can slip through the cracks more easily. The U. S. government recently imposed sanctions on foreign centers for spreading disinformation during the 2024 election. These centers succeeded in convincing voters with fake news. PolitiFact named the claim that illegal Haitian immigrants were eating pets as the 2024 Lie of the Year. This kind of false information can harm people, like those who believed COVID-19 was a hoax and refused vaccinations. The Kaiser Family Foundation reports that many COVID-19 hospitalizations and deaths in 2023 were among unvaccinated people. Robert F. Kennedy Jr. , a known anti-vaxxer, is set to lead the Department of Health and Human Services. Over 17, 000 doctors have urged senators to reject his nomination due to his history of spreading dangerous disinformation. People might not always want to know what's true, and it's getting harder to tell what's real and what's fake. A study shows that some voters think ignoring facts is a good way to make a political point. Belief in the truth can also depend on which political party you support. A Pew Trust report shows a big difference in how Republicans and Democrats trust the media. As a journalist for 45 years and a journalism teacher for 18, I know the importance of truth. It's possible to reject false facts, even if you've believed them for a long time. A group of flat Earthers admitted they were wrong after visiting Antarctica. It's time for all Americans to fight against disinformation and stand up for truth.