Pepe the frog | #TranslateHate
Pepe the frog
Meme \ ˈPEP-ay ˈthə ˈfräg \
: a popular meme that has become a symbol of the alt-right movement
WHEN IT’S ANTISEMITIC:
Pepe the frog is a cartoon character originally created in 2005 by cartoonist Matt Furie. It later turned into a meme that became a symbol of the alt-right, namely, the Groyper movement, a group of far-right activists, internet trolls, and white nationalists. Its followers, known as the “Groyper Army,” seek to bring white supremacist ideas and content to a mainstream audience. A key figure of the movement is Nicholas Fuentes, a Holocaust denier and peddler of antisemitic content best known for his roles in the 2017 “Unite the Right” rally in Charlottesville, VA, and the insurrection at the United States Capitol on January 6, 2021.
While the cartoon on its face is not problematic, Pepe the frog has become associated with far-right, antisemitic figures. As a result, Furie has sued organizations using the cartoon as a hate symbol.
