This week, TikTok CEO Shou Chew is testifying in a congressional hearing about the safety and security of his company.

This comes as Congress weighs a potential US ban of the app, with many politicians citing user safety and national security concerns.

But a number of TikTok influencers took to Capitol Hill in protest, explaining what would happen to not just them but their community if the app is banned.

Creator Robert Lucas explained, “TikTok has given me, and countless others like me, the opportunity to showcase our talent and make a living doing what we love.”

Callie Goodwin said, “A TikTok ban wouldn’t just put my business at risk. 95% of my livelihood would disappear overnight.”

Creator Tiffany Wu explained, “It’s become a vital platform for advocates across society and across the political spectrum to connect, share their stories, and help change people’s lives.”

And Baedri Nichole added, “I can tell you without question that the next generation of Black business owners are going to come from the TikTok platform. If you ban TikTok, then you put at risk putting a cap on ambitions of a whole generation of wealth creators.”