Airbnb’s “Belong Anywhere” promotion turns into a shouting match over the refugee crisis

The San Francisco home-sharing company said today it would match charitable contributions to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, which provides relief efforts for the humanitarian crisis that has displaced tens of millions of people. 

With the hashtag #BelongAnywhere, Airbnb promoted the offer on Twitter, where large numbers of ostensibly “alt-right” users tweeted their opposition. According to these mostly anonymous critics, the United States should not have to shoulder the burden of the crisis (even though the Airbnb promotion says nothing about specific countries taking refugees in). 

Refugees don’t #BelongAnywhere. America owes refugees nothing, especially with the dangers that come along with them.

— Gabrielle Seunagal ♛ (@ClassySnobbb) September 19, 2016

In response to the outrage, other users accused opponents of the campaign of co-opting the hashtag to spread xenophobia.

[Photo: Airbnb]CZ