diff --git a/daemon.py b/daemon.py
index b939ab283..6c4b31b3e 100644
--- a/daemon.py
+++ b/daemon.py
@@ -29,6 +29,7 @@ from mastoapiv1 import getMastApiV1Id
 from mastoapiv1 import getNicknameFromMastoApiV1Id
 from metadata import metaDataInstance
 from metadata import metaDataNodeInfo
+from metadata import metadataCustomEmoji
 from pgp import getEmailAddress
 from pgp import setEmailAddress
 from pgp import getPGPpubKey
@@ -867,7 +868,8 @@ class PubServer(BaseHTTPRequestHandler):
                     translate: {},
                     registration: bool,
                     systemLanguage: str,
-                    projectVersion: str) -> bool:
+                    projectVersion: str,
+                    customEmoji: []) -> bool:
         """This is a vestigil mastodon API for the purpose
         of returning an empty result to sites like
         https://mastopeek.app-dist.eu
@@ -944,6 +946,9 @@ class PubServer(BaseHTTPRequestHandler):
         elif path.startswith('/api/v1/timelines'):
             sendJson = []
             sendJsonStr = 'masto API timelines sent'
+        elif path.startswith('/api/v1/custom_emojis'):
+            sendJson = customEmoji
+            sendJsonStr = 'masto API custom emojis sent'
 
         adminNickname = getConfigParam(baseDir, 'admin')
         if adminNickname and path == '/api/v1/instance':
@@ -1019,12 +1024,13 @@ class PubServer(BaseHTTPRequestHandler):
                   translate: {},
                   registration: bool,
                   systemLanguage: str,
-                  projectVersion: str) -> bool:
+                  projectVersion: str,
+                  customEmoji: []) -> bool:
         return self._mastoApiV1(path, callingDomain, authorized,
                                 httpPrefix, baseDir, nickname, domain,
                                 domainFull, onionDomain, i2pDomain,
                                 translate, registration, systemLanguage,
-                                projectVersion)
+                                projectVersion, customEmoji)
 
     def _nodeinfo(self, callingDomain: str) -> bool:
         if not self.path.startswith('/nodeinfo/2.0'):
@@ -10757,7 +10763,8 @@ class PubServer(BaseHTTPRequestHandler):
                           self.server.translate,
                           self.server.registration,
                           self.server.systemLanguage,
-                          self.server.projectVersion):
+                          self.server.projectVersion,
+                          self.server.customEmoji):
             return
 
         self._benchmarkGETtimings(GETstartTime, GETtimings,
@@ -15113,6 +15120,10 @@ def runDaemon(city: str,
     # cache to store css files
     httpd.cssCache = {}
 
+    # get the list of custom emoji, for use by the mastodon api
+    httpd.customEmoji = \
+        metadataCustomEmoji(baseDir, httpPrefix, httpd.domainFull)
+
     # whether to enable broch mode, which locks down the instance
     setBrochMode(baseDir, httpd.domainFull, brochMode)
 
diff --git a/metadata.py b/metadata.py
index c8bee73c1..e073692c3 100644
--- a/metadata.py
+++ b/metadata.py
@@ -128,3 +128,30 @@ def metaDataInstance(instanceTitle: str,
     }
 
     return instance
+
+
+def metadataCustomEmoji(baseDir: str,
+                        httpPrefix: str, domainFull: str) -> {}:
+    """Returns the custom emoji
+    Endpoint /api/v1/custom_emojis
+    See https://docs.joinmastodon.org/methods/instance/custom_emojis
+    """
+    result = []
+    emojisUrl = httpPrefix + '://' + domainFull + '/emoji'
+    for subdir, dirs, files in os.walk(baseDir + '/emoji'):
+        for f in files:
+            if len(f) < 3:
+                continue
+            if f[0].isdigit() or f[1].isdigit():
+                continue
+            if not f.endswith('.png'):
+                continue
+            url = os.path.join(emojisUrl, f)
+            result.append({
+                "shortcode": f.replace('.png', ''),
+                "url": url,
+                "static_url": url,
+                "visible_in_picker": True
+            })
+        break
+    return result
diff --git a/orgs/instance.txt b/orgs/instance.txt
deleted file mode 100644
index a797b348d..000000000
--- a/orgs/instance.txt
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,21 +0,0 @@
-{
-    "Administrator": {
-        description: "Administrator of the instance",
-        iconUrl: "",
-        members: [],
-	team: {
-            "Moderator": {
-                description: "Can moderate posts, suspend members and block instances",
-                pitch: "",
-                iconUrl: "",
-                members: []
-	    },
-            "Delegator": {
-                description: "Can delegate roles",
-                pitch: "",
-                iconUrl: "",
-                members: []
-	    }
-        }
-    }
-}
diff --git a/orgs/protest.txt b/orgs/protest.txt
deleted file mode 100644
index 19efc83e1..000000000
--- a/orgs/protest.txt
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,98 +0,0 @@
-{
-    "General meeting": {
-        "Safety": {
-            "Legal team": {
-                description: "",
-                pitch: "",
-		iconUrl: "",
-                members: []
-	    },
-            "Legal observers": {
-                description: "",
-                pitch: "",
-		iconUrl: "",
-                members: []
-	    },
-            "Jail support": {
-                description: "",
-                pitch: "",
-		iconUrl: "",
-                members: []
-	    },
-            "Medics team": {
-                description: "",
-                pitch: "",
-		iconUrl: "",
-                members: []
-	    },
-            "Recovery team": {
-                description: "",
-                pitch: "",
-		iconUrl: "",
-                members: []
-	    }
-	}
-    },
-    "Organizing": {
-        "Logistics": {
-            "Police spokesperson": {
-                description: "",
-                pitch: "",
-		iconUrl: "",
-                members: []
-	    },
-            "Self defense team": {
-                description: "",
-                pitch: "",
-		iconUrl: "",
-                members: []
-	    },
-            "Spotters": {
-                description: "",
-                pitch: "",
-		iconUrl: "",
-                members: []
-	    }
-	},
-        "Message": {
-            "Media spokesperson": {
-                description: "",
-                pitch: "",
-		iconUrl: "",
-                members: []
-	    },
-	    "Writer": {
-                description: "",
-                pitch: "",
-		iconUrl: "",
-                members: []
-	    }
-	},
-        "Mobilization": {
-	    "Meme artist": {
-                description: "",
-                pitch: "",
-		iconUrl: "",
-                members: []
-	    },
-            "Banner visuals": {
-                description: "",
-                pitch: "",
-		iconUrl: "",
-                members: []
-	    },
-	    "Social media": {
-                description: "",
-                pitch: "",
-		iconUrl: "",
-                members: []
-	    },
-            "Video producer": {
-                description: "",
-                pitch: "",
-		iconUrl: "",
-                members: []
-	    }
-	}
-    }
-}
diff --git a/orgs/publication.txt b/orgs/publication.txt
deleted file mode 100644
index 511400222..000000000
--- a/orgs/publication.txt
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,58 +0,0 @@
-{
-    "Chief Editor": {
-        description: "",
-        pitch: "",
-        iconUrl: "",
-        members: [],
-	team: {
-            "Creative": {
-                "Photographer": {
-                    description: "",
-                    pitch: "",
-		    iconUrl: "",
-                    members: []
-	        },
-                "Layout editor": {
-                    description: "",
-                    pitch: "",
-		    iconUrl: "",
-                    members: []
-	        },
-                "Writers team": {
-                    description: "",
-                    pitch: "",
-		    iconUrl: "",
-                    members: []
-	        }
-	    },
-            "Copy": {
-                "Proof reader": {
-                    description: "",
-                    pitch: "",
-                    iconUrl: "",
-                    members: []
-                },
-                "Fact checker": {
-                    description: "",
-                    pitch: "",
-                    iconUrl: "",
-                    members: []
-                }
-            },
-            "Publicity": {
-                "Website designer": {
-                    description: "",
-                    pitch: "",
-                    iconUrl: "",
-                    members: []
-	        },
-                "Social media publicist": {
-                    description: "",
-                    pitch: "",
-                    iconUrl: "",
-                    members: []
-	        }
-	    }
-	}
-    }
-}