5:39 p.m.
Dear GNU Assembly,
Like many I’m astonished by the FSF’s decision to reinstate RMS (who
actually still had voting rights, I recently learned). To me, it’s a
betrayal, as if the forced resignation two years ago was a masquerade.
I support the call in the open letter to RMS¹ “for the removal of the
entire Board of the Free Software Foundation.” Until it has cleaned
house, this foundation can no longer pretend to represent the free
software movement.
I also support the call to remove RMS “from all leadership positions,
including the GNU Project”, though I think we’ve gone past that: we
demanded that two years ago², but by creating this assembly, we affirmed
that GNU Project leadership is in our hands, collectively, as
maintainers and contributors to GNU.
Unfortunately, the letter also calls to “[r]efuse to contribute to
projects related to the FSF and RMS”. As Andy explained³, this is
something that’s hard for us to sign, as people who maintain and
contribute to “projects related to the FSF”.
Perhaps one workaround for this bug, so to speak, would be for us to
publish a statement expressing our support, reaffirming where we stand
wrt. “GNU leadership” and what it is we seek to build (as Mark wrote⁴),
and calling hackers to join us in building a landmark of free software
actively working to create a welcoming space for all.
Yes, it would be yet another statement in an already long list. But
we’re in a sweet spot and I think our voice needs to be heard. It’s an
opportunity to move forward on our agenda, too.
Thoughts?
Ludo’.
¹ https://rms-open-letter.github.io/
² https://guix.gnu.org/en/blog/2019/joint-statement-on-the-gnu-project/
³ https://wingolog.org/archives/2021/03/25/here-we-go-again
⁴ https://gnu.wildebeest.org/blog/mjw/2021/03/24/fsf-associate-membership/