Santa Maria Councilwoman speaks out on human rights after online harassment

SANTA MARIA, Calif. - Santa Maria City Councilwoman Gloria Soto says she is getting vicious online harassment due in part to her stance on the Black Lives Matters movement.

She says she wants to get the word out that online harassment of women is a broader human rights problem.

Soto believes it's everyone's responsibility to stand against online abuse.

It started a week and a half ago, when Santa Maria city councilwoman Gloria Soto says she received online harassment after voicing her support for immigrant rights and the Black Lives Matter movement. "There was rumors going on around social media that I was the one that either was starting the demonstration putting it on."

Soto’s friend Patricia Solorio, a community activist, says she's seeing similar online harassment. "We’re either going to come out of this more divided or to take the opportunity to have dialogue and be more united. I think ultimately everyone wants what’s best for the city of Santa Maria."

Both Solorio and Soto believe it is essential to view online harassment of women as a broader human rights problem,

"It’s important that we all use our collective voices to stand against racism to stand against systematic oppression so that we can all lift each other up," said Soto.

Spokesperson Mark van de Kamp with the City of Santa Maria sent the following statement: “This is a time to unite, not divide. To focus on matters peacefully and with purpose. We are Americans. All of us to need to listen to our neighbors as equals, and try to understand their experience. The answers to problems are found by living up to American ideals of fairness and justice for all."

As the Black Lives Matter movement continues across the country Soto hopes everyone will take responsibility, including governments and social media giants, to stand against online abuse and protect women's participation in democracy.