Globenet
Lettre ouverte à l’attention de la Free Software Foundation [anglais]
Globenet a signé cette lettre ouverte à la Free Software Foundation (FSF) exigeant la démission de Richard Matthew Stallman (RMS) et du directoire de la fondation car nous jugeons les propos et les actes de RMS graves et violents.
Nous, membres de Globenet, tenons à préciser ceci :
1. Nous ne nous reconnaissons pas dans la démarche des partisans de l’Open Source qui chercheraient à nuire au mouvement du libre : contrairement à eux, nous ne voyons pas les logiciels libres comme une commodité technique, ni les licences libres comme de simples outils juridiques.
2. Nous adhérons aux valeurs revendiquées par le mouvement du libre quand elles sont sincèrement incarnées, car le libre est pour nous un choix politique. Il est l’un des moyens que nous souhaitons mettre au service de nos luttes pour notre émancipation individuelle et collective.
3. Partant de là, nous estimons que RMS, et le board de la FSF en le réintégrant, violent ce qui fonde notre engagement, car ils cautionnent, même passivement, une oppression. Lorsque des membres de la communauté, aussi éminents soient-ils, ont des comportements ou tiennent des propos discriminatoires (racistes, sexistes, transphobes, etc.), nous refusons de nous taire : nous estimons qu’ils ne nous représentent pas. Nous leur demandons donc de s’en aller.
4. Notre position est d’autant plus ferme que RMS n’a visiblement aucune intention de se remettre en cause.
5. Pour le reste, nous nous retrouvons dans la lettre que nous avons co-signée.
An open letter to remove Richard M. Stallman from all leadership positions
2021-03-23 / English Version
Richard M. Stallman, frequently known as RMS, has been a dangerous force in the free software community for a long time. He has shown himself to be misogynist, ableist, and transphobic, among other serious accusations of impropriety. These sorts of beliefs have no place in the free software, digital rights, and tech communities. With his recent reinstatement to the Board of Directors of the Free Software Foundation, we call for the entire Board of the FSF to step down and for RMS to be removed from all leadership positions.
We, the undersigned, believe in the necessity of digital autonomy and the powerful role user freedom plays in protecting our fundamental human rights. In order to realize the promise of everything software freedom makes possible, there must be radical change within the community. We believe in a present and a future where all technology empowers – not oppresses – people. We know that this is only possible in a world where technology is built to pay respect to our rights at its most foundational levels. While these ideas have been popularized in some form by Richard M. Stallman, he does not speak for us. We do not condone his actions and opinions. We do not acknowledge his leadership or the leadership of the Free Software Foundation as it stands today.
There has been enough tolerance of RMS’s repugnant ideas and behavior. We cannot continue to let one person ruin the meaning of our work. Our communities have no space for people like Richard M. Stallman, and we will not continue suffering his behavior, giving him a leadership role, or otherwise holding him and his hurtful and dangerous ideology as acceptable.
We are calling for the removal of the entire Board of the Free Software Foundation. These are people who have enabled and empowered RMS for years. They demonstrate this again by permitting him to rejoin the FSF Board. It is time for RMS to step back from the free software, tech ethics, digital rights, and tech communities, for he cannot provide the leadership we need. We are also calling for Richard M. Stallman to be removed from all leadership positions, including the GNU Project.
We urge those in a position to do so to stop supporting the Free Software Foundation. Refuse to contribute to projects related to the FSF and RMS. Do not speak at or attend FSF events, or events that welcome RMS and his brand of intolerance. We ask for contributors to free software projects to take a stand against bigotry and hate within their projects. While doing these things, tell these communities and the FSF why.
We have detailed several public incidents of RMS’s behavior. Some of us have our own stories about RMS and our interactions with him, things that are not captured in email threads or on video. We hope you will read what has been shared and consider the harm that he has done to our community and others.
To sign, please email digitalautonomy at riseup.net