The Software Freedom Conservancy Does Not and Cannot Speak for the Free Software Movement

Due to recent events and because of a statement[1] made by the Software Freedom Conservancy, I am publicly withdrawing my support. I can not in good conscience continue to support an organization that would find it acceptable to participate in slander and mob justice. There is never an acceptable time or place to destroy a person's reputation or career because of personally held grudges or differing opinions. In my view, the statement[1] the Conservancy made was not acceptable for any organization to make.

Richard Stallman has done a lot of good for the world and has always advocated for equality and inclusiveness in the Free Software movement. I find it reprehensible that the Conservancy would participate in the petty character assassination of RMS and advocate for ending his career because of his personally held opinions. I have yet to find anything written by RMS that advocated for bigotry, violence or harm. All RMS is guilty of doing is defending a colleague, caring about the gross misuse of terms and making religious jokes.

If we are not able to express unpopular opinions, with civil debate, defend the character of deceased colleagues or make religious jokes, we are not free and we do not have a free society.

[1] https://sfconservancy.org/news/2019/sep/16/rms-does-not-speak-for-us/