Moral policing on social media: 'Kiss of Love' page blocked on Facebook

Update: The page has been unblocked by Facebook. Here is the post by the ‘Kiss of Love’ organisers:

Post by Kiss Of Love .

As if taking organisers and sympathisers of the controversial ‘Kiss of Love’ event into custody as they tried to march to the Marine Drive grounds in Kochi on Sunday was not enough, the Facebook page of the event has also been blocked.

Firstpost noticed that the Facebook page which was functioning at around 9amwas suddenly blocked by around 9.15 am. However, this did not stop the protesters as they started another Kiss of Love page on Facebook.

The earlier Facebook page of the campaign, which had over 70,000 likes, had a cover picture protesting the police action against the ‘Kiss of Love’ participants. It said, “Attackers are safe, victims are locked up.”

On Monday, About 50 persons were taken into custody, they said. Holding placards and raising slogans against moral policing, the protestors were bundled into a police van.

In order to express solidarity with a coffee shop which was attacked last week by BJP youth wing activists, a group of youngsters decided to observe a ‘kiss day’ on 2 November and the event was called ‘Kiss of Love’.

On the day of the protest, a strong police contingent had been posted at the Marine Drive Grounds to keep a lookout for potential trouble makers.

The organisers had expected nearly 1,000 people to turn up for the event, but the media hype generated saw the area overflowing with people, curious to see the unique protest and those against the event.

In a last minute change, the organisers had tried to take out a march from the Ernakulam law college at around 4.30 pm to reach the Marine Drive grounds, when they were stopped by police and taken into custody.

The earlier plan was that the event would be held at the grounds at 5 pm.

(With inputs from PTI)