Recently, at least two media outlets reported that a political advocacy group funded by Uber/Postmates, Doordash, Instacart, and Lyft has targeted Veena Dubal, a law professor at UC Hastings and a South Asian Bar Association of Northern California (SABA-NC) member, on Twitter over efforts to get their workers classified as employees. Dubal is a prominent advocate for AB5 and open critic of Proposition 22, a ballot measure aimed at maintaining the classification of gig workers as independent contractors. The group, Yes on Proposition 22, is dedicated to promoting Proposition 22 and operates under the Twitter handle, @VoteYesOn22. 

@VoteYesOn22 has encouraged Twitter users to post screenshots of notifications that they have been blocked by Dubal. The account then retweeted screenshots from users who purported to be gig drivers. Over the past 6 months, Dubal has received a number of threats and vulgar messages, some targeting her based on her race. In March, a user doxxed Dubal by posting her home address on Twitter. This was especially concerning for her because it occurred during the COVID-19 lockdown. Dubal claims that she has been harassed offline as well. She fears for her safety, as well as the safety of her family.  

To be clear, we take no position on Proposition 22 itself. 

With that said, acts of harassment and threats, including those that are based on race and directed against South Asians, have no legitimate role in civil discourse. We condemn anyone who is harassing or doxxing Dubal.