The U.S. may not openly have a social credit system in place, but there's no question one exists in what Alliance Defending Freedom says is cancel culture’s latest threat: debanking.
The legal group cited what happened to the National Committee for Religious Freedom as an example. Despite the "established credibility" of NCRF and an advisory board that includes former members of Congress among other notable public figures, JPMorgan Chase canceled the nonprofit’s checking account without notice.
And this was not an isolated incident. Republican attorneys general from 19 states wrote to JPMorgan CEO Jamie Dimon in May, accusing the bank of discriminating against customers over their religious or political affiliation.
But it appears to have fallen on deaf ears.
Dr. Joseph Mercola, whom The New York Times decried as "the misinformation 'superspreader,'" announced this week that Chase shut down his business's bank account, as well as accounts belonging to his CEO and CFO and their family members.
"They've refused to provide any reason for doing so, the oldest account has been active for 18 years," he wrote on Twitter.
He summarized what happened on Substack:
July 13, 2023, JP Morgan Chase Bank informed me they are closing all of my business accounts, along with the personal accounts of my CEO, my CFO and their respective spouses and children
- My CEO was informed his young children also will never be allowed to bank with Chase in the future
- No reason for the decision was given, other than there was "unexpected activity" on an unspecified account
- This is what the new social credit system looks like, and what every soul on the planet can expect from the central bank digital currencies (CBDCs) that are being rolled out. Go against the prevailing narrative of the day, and your financial life will be deleted
- It's difficult enough trying to navigate this hurdle today. Once everything is digitized, cash eradicated and the social credit system completely integrated and automated, this kind of retaliatory action for wrongthink could be a death sentence for some people
CEO Steven Rye told Florida's Voice he believes the reason for cancellation was politically motivated due to Mercola carrying a "contradictory view throughout the COVID narrative." He was also stunned by the apparent retaliatory action directed toward his children.
"It's just hard to believe that your family, your wife, your kids can't have a bank account because of the opinions of your employer, and they've never done anything wrong," Rye said. "We all have completely clear records."
The news was widely condemned on social media and led to calls for Congress to step in.
The Chinafication of America is happening. That Chase Bank can unilaterally close someone’s account @mercola without giving notice or a legal reason brings us one step closer to dictatorship. Congress needs to act… https://t.co/tcplQc0pbK
— Rob Schneider (@RobSchneider) July 26, 2023
Do most Americans really want to live in a society where you can be denied basic services on the basis of your public comments? https://t.co/XutUKGaD1s
— Matt Taibbi (@mtaibbi) July 26, 2023
Looks like Chase shut down long-time accounts of Mercola’s company, employees, and their family members. No reason given. I wonder if it has anything to do with their medical dissent? https://t.co/VwqQuzSJg6
— Robert F. Kennedy Jr (@RobertKennedyJr) July 26, 2023
A shocking case of debanking from America.
— Nigel Farage (@Nigel_Farage) July 27, 2023
Dr @Mercola is entitled to his views on medicine without losing his bank accounts.
He says they have even done the same to family members.
Perhaps we need a US campaign too? pic.twitter.com/xLYJktzqng
CCP’s style Social Credit System has arrived. Communism has arrived.
— Xi Van Fleet (@XVanFleet) July 26, 2023
Wake up, America!