Thread by @tharkban

My official, public comment on @timnitGebru's firing googlewalkout.medium.com/standing-with-… .

#ISupportTimnit #BelieveBlackWomen

I strongly disagree with the way Dr. Timnit Gebru was fired and the firing itself. 1/6

The research community within Google and external to it needs to listen to marginalized voices when they speak and make space for them, even when it's something we don't want to hear. Particularly when it's something we don't want to hear. 2/6

Dr. Gebru has been that rare voice, courageously calling attention to the places we need to do better. I'm less interested in the most recent incident that transpired and instead would like us to focus, 3/6

without corporate-speak and gaslighting, on addressing the countless day to day events which conspire to make life difficult for our marginalized voices. These micro and macro aggressions rightly make it seem the company itself is against marginalized voices. 4/6

These actions inevitably create the moment when someone, in frustration, must put their foot down. Firing Dr. Gebru was uncalled for, unnecessary, and deeply damaging to Google's reputation in the Research community. 5/6

I'm floored by how this was handled and truly disappointed in our leadership team. 6/end