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How Silicon Valley leaders, from Elon Musk to Tim Cook, are responding to the George Floyd protests (AAPL, GOOGL, TSLA)

Avery Hartmans

Silicon Valley leaders are voicing their solidarity for protests that have erupted across the nation in response to the death of George Floyd.

Mark Zuckerberg, Sundar Pichai, and Jeff Bezos.
Mark Zuckerberg, Sundar Pichai, and Jeff Bezos.
  • Executives from Google, Snap, Apple, Facebook, and more are speaking out against racial inequality and police brutality in social media posts and memos to employees.
  • "Every minute we are silent in the face of evil and wrongdoing we are acting in support of evildoers," Snap CEO Evan Spiegel wrote in a memo to employees obtained by The Information . He called for tax reform and the creation of a non-partisan committee on reparations.
  • In a memo obtained by Bloomberg , Apple CEO Tim Cook pointed to the history of racism in the US, which he described as "a painful past" that is "still present today."
  • The CEOs of Google, Apple, Snap, and Facebook all pledged to donate to organizations that support racial justice and equality.
  • The US is entering its sixth day of unrest over the killing of Floyd, who died while being subdued by police in Minneapolis.
  • Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories .
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Google will match any employee contribution up to $10,000, Pichai said in the memo , which was obtained by Business Insider.

Google also added a black ribbon to its homepage to show support for racial equality. "For those feeling grief, anger, sadness & fear, you are not alone," Pichai wrote on Twitter.

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"Every minute we are silent in the face of evil and wrongdoing we are acting in support of evildoers," Spiegel wrote in the memo, which was obtained by The Information . "I am heartbroken and enraged by the treatment of black people and people of color in America."

Spiegel called for change at the governmental level, urging for the creation of a non-partisan commission on reparations and revamping the tax code to tax the wealthy at a higher rate.While Snap will donate financially to organizations that support racial equality, Spiegel said, philanthropy won't "make more than a dent" in the issue.

"Private philanthropy can patch holes, or accelerate progress, but it alone cannot cross the deep and wide chasm of injustice," Spiegel wrote. "We must cross that chasm together as a united nation. United in the striving for freedom, equality, and justice for all."

Spiegel also touched on content moderation on Snapchat, saying that while Snap will not promote accounts linked to people who incite racial violence, it won't go as far as removing content people disagree with.

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Gates wrote on Twitter on Sunday that she's been following the protests over the last several days and has felt "overwhelmed with solidarity," but that she doesn't yet know the best way to use her voice and philanthropy to help.

"I will continue to deepen my understanding and to stand with people and organizations working toward a future centered on gender and racial equity," Gates wrote.

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In a post on Facebook , Zuckerberg praised Darnella Frazier, who posted the video of Floyd's death, saying that as hard as it was to watch, "we all needed to see that."

Zuckerberg said Facebook would donate $10 million to racial justice groups recommended by employees and the company's "civil rights advisors." He also detailed the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative's work in criminal justice reform, which he said has invested somewhere in the neighborhood of $40 million over the last several years.

"The pain of the last week reminds us how far our country has to go to give every person the freedom to live with dignity and peace. It reminds us yet again that the violence Black people in America live with today is part of a long history of racism and injustice," Zuckerberg wrote. "We stand with the Black community and all those working towards justice in honor of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Ahmaud Arbery and far too many others whose names will not be forgotten."

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Musk responded to a video on Twitter, saying that it's "definitely not right" that the other police officers present when Floyd died weren't charged.

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In a memo to employees , Cook wrote that we must stand up for one another in the aftermath of Floyd's death and in light of "a much longer history of racism," Bloomberg reported .

"That painful past is still present today not only in the form of violence, but in the everyday experience of deeply rooted discrimination," Cook wrote. "We see it in our criminal justice system, in the disproportionate toll of disease on Black and Brown communities, in the inequalities in neighborhood services and the educations our children receive. While our laws have changed, the reality is that their protections are still not universally applied."

Cook said Apple would make donations to the Equal Justice Initiative, along with several other groups, and would be matching all employee donations two-for-one in the month of June.

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"George Floyd's death is shocking and tragic proof that we must aim far higher than a 'normal' future, and build one that lives up to the highest ideals of equality and justice," Cook wrote.

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"We stand against racism. We stand against bigotry. We stand for justice," Sandberg wrote.

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Bezos posted an essay by writer Shenequa Golding about attempting to maintain professionalism after witnessing black men and women being killed. Bezos recommended reading Golding's thoughts, especially if you're a manager or leader.

"The pain and emotional trauma caused by the racism and violence we are witnessing toward the black community has a long reach," Bezos wrote.

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Avery Hartmans

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