Here is the draft ballot:
Voting period starts 2021-04-04 00:00:00 UTC
Votes must be received by 2021-04-17 23:59:59 UTC
The following ballot is for voting on a regarding Richard Stallman's
readmission to the FSF board
This vote is being conducted as required by the Debian Constitution.
You may see the constitution at https://www.debian.org/devel/constitution.
For voting questions or problems contact secret...@debian.org.
The details of the general resolution can be found at:
https://www.debian.org/vote/2021/vote_002
Also, note that you can get a fresh ballot any time before the end of
the vote by sending a signed mail to
bal...@vote.debian.org
with the subject "gr_rms".
To vote you need to be a Debian Developer.
HOW TO VOTE
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VOTING SECRECY
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VOTING FORM
- - -=-=-=-=-=- Don't Delete Anything Between These Lines =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
4c932db2-1cdc-4ea0-a6f7-ac8ba2fc010c
[ ] Choice 1: Call for the FSF board removal, as in rms-open-letter.github.io
[ ] Choice 2: Call for Stallman's resignation from all FSF bodies
[ ] Choice 3: Discourage collaboration with the FSF while Stallman is in a
leading position
[ ] Choice 4: Call on the FSF to further its governance processes
[ ] Choice 5: Support Stallman's reinstatement, as in
rms-support-letter.github.io
[ ] Choice 6: Denounce a witch-hunt against RMS and the FSF
[ ] Choice 7: Debian will not issue a public statement on this issue
[ ] Choice 8: Further Discussion
- - -=-=-=-=-=- Don't Delete Anything Between These Lines =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
----------------------------------------------------------------------
BALLOT OPTIONS
Choice 1: Call for the FSF board removal, as in rms-open-letter.github.io
=========================================================================
The Debian Project co-signs the statement regarding Richard
Stallman's readmission to the FSF board seen at
https://github.com/rms-open-letter/rms-open-letter.github.io/blob/main/index.md.
The text of this statement is given below.
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.
Choice 2: Call for Stallman's resignation from all FSF bodies
=============================================================
Under section 4.1.5 of the constitution, the Developers make the
following statement:
Debian’s statement on Richard Stallman rejoining the FSF board
We at Debian are profoundly disappointed to hear of the re-election
of Richard Stallman to a leadership position at the Free Software
Foundation, after a series of serious accusations of misconduct led
to his resignation as president and board member of the FSF in 2019.
One crucial factor in making our community more inclusive is to
recognise and reflect when other people are harmed by our own
actions and consider this feedback in future actions. The way
Richard Stallman announced his return to the board unfortunately
lacks any acknowledgement of this kind of thought process. We are
deeply disappointed that the FSF board elected him a board member
again despite no discernible steps were taken by him to be
accountable for, much less make amends for, his past actions or
those who have been harmed by them. Finally, we are also disturbed
by the secretive process of his re-election, and how it was
belatedly conveyed [0] to FSF’s staff and supporters.
We believe this step and how it was communicated sends wrong and
hurtful message and harms the future of the Free Software movement.
The goal of the software freedom movement is to empower all people
to control technology and thereby create a better society for
everyone. Free Software is meant to serve everyone regardless of
their age, ability or disability, gender identity, sex, ethnicity,
nationality, religion or sexual orientation. This requires an
inclusive and diverse environment that welcomes all contributors
equally. Debian realises that we ourselves and the Free Software
movement still have to work hard to be in that place where everyone
feels safe and respected to participate in it in order to fulfil the
movement's mission.
That is why, we call for his resignation from all FSF bodies. The
FSF needs to seriously reflect on this decision as well as their
decision-making process to prevent similar issues from happening
again. Therefore, in the current situation we see ourselves unable
to collaborate both with the FSF and any other organisation in which
Richard Stallman has a leading position. Instead, we will continue
to work with groups and individuals who foster diversity and
equality in the Free Software movement in order to achieve our joint
goal of empowering all users to control technology.
[0] https://status.fsf.org/notice/3796703
Heavily based on:
[1] https://fsfe.org/news/2021/news-20210324-01.html
[2]
https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2021/03/statement-re-election-richard-stallman-fsf-board
Choice 3: Discourage collaboration with the FSF while Stallman is in a leading
position
=======================================================================================
Under section 4.1.5 of the constitution, the Developers make the
following statement:
Debian’s statement on Richard Stallman rejoining the FSF board
We at Debian are profoundly disappointed to hear of the re-election
of Richard Stallman to a leadership position at the Free Software
Foundation, after a series of serious accusations of misconduct led
to his resignation as president and board member of the FSF in 2019.
One crucial factor in making our community more inclusive is to
recognise and reflect when other people are harmed by our actions
and consider this feedback in future actions. Unfortunately, the way
Richard Stallman announced his return to the board lacks any
acknowledgement of this kind of thought process. We are deeply
disappointed that the FSF board elected him as a board member again,
despite no discernible steps were taken by him to be accountable
for, much less make amends for, his past actions or those who have
been harmed by them. Finally, we are also disturbed by the secretive
process of his re-election, and how it was belatedly conveyed [0] to
FSF’s staff and supporters.
We believe this step and how it was communicated sends a wrong and
hurtful message and harms the future of the Free Software movement.
The goal of the software freedom movement is to empower all people
to control technology and thereby create a better society for
everyone. Free Software is meant to serve everyone regardless of
their age, ability or disability, gender identity, sex, ethnicity,
nationality, religion or sexual orientation. This requires an
inclusive and diverse environment that welcomes all contributors
equally. Debian realises that we and the Free Software movement
still have to work hard to be in that place where everyone feels
safe and respected to participate in it in order to fulfil the
movement's mission.
Therefore, in the current situation, the Debian Project discourages
collaborating both with the FSF and any other organisation in which
Richard Stallman has a leading position. Instead, we will continue
looking forward to work with groups and individuals who foster
diversity and equality in the Free Software movement in order to
achieve our joint goal of empowering all users to control
technology.
[0] https://status.fsf.org/notice/3796703
Choice 4: Call on the FSF to further its governance processes
=============================================================
This is a position statement of the Debian Developers in accordance
with our constitution, section 4.1.5.
The Developers firmly believe that leaders in any prominent
organisation are, and should be, held to the highest standards of
accountability.
We are disappointed that issues of transparency and accountability
in the governance of the Free Software Foundation have led to
unresolved and serious complaints of impropriety by its founder
Richard Stallman over a number of years whilst in the position of
president and as a member of the board. In particular, we are deeply
concerned that the board saw fit to reinstate him without properly
considering the effect of its actions on those complainants.
The Developers acknowledge that people make mistakes but believe
that where those people are in leadership positions, they must be
held accountable for their mistakes. We believe that the most
important part of making mistakes is learning from them and changing
behaviour. We are most concerned that Richard and the board have not
sufficiently acknowledged or learned from issues which have affected
a large number of people and that Richard remains a significant
influence on both the FSF board and the GNU project.
We call upon the Free Software Foundation to further steps it has
taken in March 2021 to overhaul governance of the organisation, and
to work tirelessly to ensure its aim is fulfilled. We believe that
only through properly accountable governance can members of an
organisation ensure their voice is heard. The Free Software
Foundation must do everything in its power to protect its staff and
members, and the wider community, including a robust and transparent
process for dealing with complaints.
We urge Richard Stallman and the remaining members of the board
which reinstated him, to consider their positions.
The Developers are proud that contributors to free software come
from all walks of life and that our diverse experience and opinions
are a strength of software freedom. But we must never cease in our
efforts to ensure that all contributors are treated with respect,
and that they feel safe and secure in our communities - including
when we meet in person.
Choice 5: Support Stallman's reinstatement, as in rms-support-letter.github.io
==============================================================================
The Debian Project co-signs the statement regarding Richard
Stallman's readmission to the FSF board seen at
https://rms-support-letter.github.io/. The text of this statement is
given below.
Richard M. Stallman, frequently known as RMS, has been a driving
force in the free software movement for decades, with contributions
including the GNU operating system and Emacs.
Recently, there have been vile online attacks looking to remove him
from the FSF board of directors for expressing his personal
opinions. We have watched this happen before in an organized fashion
with other prominent free software activists and programmers. We
will not stand idly this time, when an icon of this community is
attacked.
FSF is an autonomous body that is capable of treating its members in
a fair, unbiased fashion, and should not give in to external social
pressures. We urge the FSF to consider the arguments against RMS
objectively and to truly understand the meaning of his words and
actions.
Historically, RMS has been expressing his views in ways that upset
many people. He is usually more focused on the philosophical
underpinnings, and pursuing the objective truth and linguistic
purism, while underemphasising people’s feelings on matters he’s
commenting on. This makes his arguments vulnerable to
misunderstanding and misrepresentation, something which we feel is
happening in the open letter calling for his removal. His words need
to be interpreted in this context and taking into account that more
often than not, he is not looking to put things diplomatically.
Regardless, Stallman’s opinions on the matters he is being
persecuted over are not relevant to his ability to lead a community
such as the FSF. Furthermore, he is entitled to his opinions just as
much as anyone else. Members and supporters do not have to agree
with his opinions, but should respect his right to freedom of
thought and speech.
To the FSF:
Removing RMS will hurt FSF’s image and will deal a significant blow
to the momentum of the free software movement. We urge you to
consider your actions carefully, as what you will decide will have a
serious impact on the future of the software industry.
To the ambush mob who is ganging up on Richard Stallman over
reasonable arguments in debate and various opinions and beliefs
voiced over decades as a public figure:
You have no part in choosing the leadership of any communities.
Especially not via another mob attack which does not remotely
resemble a fairly conducted debate as exemplified by better people
such as Richard Stallman.
Choice 6: Denounce a witch-hunt against RMS and the FSF
=======================================================
Debian refuses to participate in and denounces the witch-hunt
against Richard Stallman, the Free Software Foundation, and the
members of the board of the Free Software Foundation.
Choice 7: Debian will not issue a public statement on this issue
================================================================
The Debian Project will not issue a public statement on whether
Richard Stallman should be removed from leadership positions or not.
Any individual (including Debian members) wishing to (co-)sign any
of the open letters on this subject is invited to do this in a
personal capacity.
Choice 8: Further Discussion
============================
This is the default option. Rank this option higher than the unacceptable
choices.
VOTE RESULTS
The responses to a valid vote shall be signed by the vote key created
for this vote. The public key for the vote, signed by the Project
secretary, is appended below.
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