Alexis Ohanian, one of the co-founders of Reddit, has stepped down from the Reddit board in the wake of the US protests against the police killing of George Floyd. He is also calling on the board of the American social news aggregation, web content rating, and discussion website to fill his seat with a black candidate.
He also said he would be using future gains on his Reddit stock to serve the black community, chiefly to curb racial hate. He also sadi he would be starting with a pledge of $1 million to Colin Kaepernick’s Know Your Rights Camp initiative, an organization founded by the American civil rights activist and American football quarterback that focuses on self-empowerment and safety for black and brown communities.
I've resigned as a member of the reddit board, I have urged them to fill my seat with a black candidate, + I will use future gains on my Reddit stock to serve the black community, chiefly to curb racial hate, and I’m starting with a pledge of $1M to @kaepernick7’s @yourrightscamp
— AlexisOhanian(@alexisohanian) June 5, 2020
According to Alexis on his blog, “I co-founded Reddit 15 years ago to help people find community and a sense of belonging. It is long overdue to do the right thing. I’m doing this for me, for my family, and for my country. “
“I’m writing this as a father who needs to be able to answer his black daughter when she asks: “What did you do?””
Alexis Ohanian is married to tennis star, Serena Williams and they both have a daughter, 2 year old Alexis Olympia Ohanian Jr.
“I believe resignation can actually be an act of leadership from people in power right now. To everyone fighting to fix our broken nation: do not stop,” he adds.
Serena voiced her support for her husband’s act of solidarity
George Floyd, a 46 year old black man, died after a white police officer, Derek Chauvin, knelt on Floyd’s neck for almost nine minutes while Floyd was handcuffed face down in the street.
A lot of tech companies have been lending their voices to support the #BlackLivesMatter which has been re-echoed with the recent killings of black people in America.
Ohanian co-founded Reddit in 2005 with friend Steve Huffman.
