As some Facebook employees publicly express anger, Mark Zuckerberg announces Facebook is committing $10M to groups working on racial injustice

- At least six Facebook employees have condemned CEO Mark Zuckerberg's decision to leave up President Trump's post.

CNBC 2020-06-01 Sam Shead

Context & Ripple Effects

The $10M pledge lands mid-crisis rather than as routine philanthropy: Zuckerberg had just left President Trump's posts up, and at least six employees publicly condemned the call before hundreds of staff staged a virtual walkout in rare open protest. The money is the first visible concession in a standoff that has since escalated rather than cooled.

The following days show the pledge buying little goodwill — Zuckerberg stood firmly behind his decision on an employee call, civil rights leaders came away "stunned" by his explanations, and over 30 early employees including Facebook's first comms chief signed an open letter opposing the choice.

First-order effects

Facebook's own staff become the immediate constituency: the $10M commitment is aimed at the racial-justice grievance behind the employee anger, while the Trump-post decision itself remains unchanged for the platform's users and advertisers.
Zuckerberg is now managing two fronts at once — internal dissent from at least six public objectors plus the walkout, and external pressure from civil rights leaders who consulted him directly and rejected his reasoning.

Second-order effects

The dissent is spreading from current employees to alumni: the open letter from early employees, including the first comms chief, converts an HR problem into a public-credibility problem that outlasts any single news cycle.
Management is responding with enforcement rather than accommodation — Facebook fired an employee for publicly challenging a colleague's silence, signaling that the walkout era of tolerated dissent has a hard limit and raising the stakes for anyone else speaking up.

Third-order effects

If the pattern holds, platform governance becomes contested internally as a matter of course — moderation decisions by founder-CEOs triggering organized employee action, alumni letters, and terminations — forcing companies to formalize where employee voice ends on political content.
Civil rights groups gain standing as a recurring check on platform policy: their consultation with Zuckerberg and public rejection of his answers set up an accountability dynamic that persists beyond any one post or donation.

The trend: Platform political-moderation calls are becoming flashpoints for organized tech-employee activism, with donations and walkouts replacing quiet internal disagreement as the negotiation mechanism.

Discussion

@stirman @stirman on x
I don't know what to do, but I know doing nothing is not acceptable. I'm a FB employee that completely disagrees with Mark's decision to do nothing about Trump's recent posts, which clearly incite violence. I'm not alone inside of FB. There isn't a neutral position on racism.
@jasontoff Jason Toff on x
I work at Facebook and I am not proud of how we're showing up. The majority of coworkers I've spoken to feel the same way. We are making our voice heard.
@andrewcrow Andrew on x
Censoring information that might help people see the complete picture *is* wrong. But giving a platform to incite violence and spread disinformation is unacceptable, regardless who you are or if it's newsworthy. I disagree with Mark's position and will work to make change happen.
@ryanchris Ryan Freitas on x
Mark is wrong, and I will endeavor in the loudest possible way to change his mind.
@chrismasterson Chris Masterson on x
Honestly embarassed to say I ever worked at Facebook. Learned a lot from some great people, but wow, fuck that company.
@iamnbutler Nate Butler on x
I've shared others posts, but I need to be clear-FB is on the wrong side of this and I can't support their stance. Doing nothing isn't Being Bold. Many of us feel this way.
@superrrsara Sara Zhang on x
Internally we are voicing our concerns, so far to no avail. I personally will continue to bring it up until something has is changed. https://twitter.com/...
@mosseri @mosseri on x
We hear you, we see you, and we are with you. We stand against racism. We stand with our black community. We stand with all those working toward justice. These past few weeks have been depressing and infuriating. We all deserve to live with dignity and without fear of violence. h…
@pasql Pasquale D'Silva on x
Jason, please do something other than “speak”. I doubt what you work on at Facebook day to day is any more important than attacking the issues heads on. Prioritize it. Otherwise it looks like you're merely covering your butt to dodge heat. https://twitter.com/...
@kimmaicutler Kim-Mai Cutler on x
Mark Zuckerberg's pledge last night to donate 0.01% of his wealth to racial justice doesn't make up for how his product fuels hysteria and fear feeding punitive and incarceral approaches to solving racial and economic inequity. https://twitter.com/...
@drdenagrayson Dr. Dena Grayson on x
Facebook employees are rebelling over Mark Zuckerberg's refusal to act against @realDonaldTrump-including Zuck's *personal decision* to leave up the Facebook version of Trump's tweet that encouraged police to shoot rioters. #DeleteFacebook https://www.theguardian.com/ ...
@jayrayner1 Jay Rayner on x
Lots of senior Facebook people objecting to Zuckerberg giving Trump a free run on Facebook. Anybody heard from @nick_clegg? God, he must really need the money. https://www.theguardian.com/ ...
@authorkimberley Kimberley Johnson on x
WOW! Facebook employees are staging a rebellion over Zuckerberg's refusal to act against Trump, expressing their dissatisfaction with their boss on social media in a rare display of dissent from within the company. https://www.theguardian.com/ ...
@ninzucchi Nick Inzucchi on x
Mark Zuckerberg doesn't understand state violence. https://twitter.com/...
@tvietor08 Tommy Vietor on x
Wait...Mark Zuckerberg is taking calls from Trump and advising him on his tone? If only Mark had an enormous platform he could use to do or say something about violent rhetoric and lies. https://www.axios.com/...
@kevinroose Kevin Roose on x
If Facebook was your sole news source, and you saw only the most popular links on the platform, you'd think that what happened this weekend was a violent, unprovoked attack on law enforcement by a left-wing terror group.
@kurtwagner8 Kurt Wagner on x
Something big is happening at FB - employees are speaking out publicly against CEO Mark Zuckerberg's decision not to remove Donald Trump's posts glorifying violence In the many years I've covered FB, I've never seen this kind of public criticism before https://www.bloomberg.com/.…
@davegillis David Gillis on x
I believe Trump's “when the looting starts, the shooting starts” tweet (cross-posted to FB), encourages extra-judicial violence and stokes racism. Respect to @Twitter's integrity team for making the enforcement call.
@shonaghosh Shona Ghosh on x
One curiosity about this: that Facebook/Google employees seem to view their CEOs implicitly or explicitly as statesman-style figures and lobby them as though they have nation-state levels of power.
@kylebrussell Kyle Russell on x
Amazing PR coup by @jack, banning political ads + tagging Trump tweets FB keeps Trump posts up; meanwhile Twitter is inciting violence and spreading disinformation by keeping the same content up and facilitating proliferation of videos of physical violence from rioters + police h…
@paulachertok Paula Chertok on x
.@Moonalice was right. Zuckerberg aligns w/ Trump, sucking up as needed. Zuckerberg called Trump on Friday, likely reassured him that @Facebook (unlike @Twitter) will violate its own rules to let Trump use their platform to promote violence. https://www.axios.com/... h/t @JuddLeg…
@shannoncoulter Shannon Coulter on x
I admire this Tweet but unless Jason and his coworkers quit Facebook en masse, I don't give these words any real weight. https://twitter.com/...
@joncoopertweets @joncoopertweets on x
Oh, isn't that sweet. Trump and his BFF Mark Zuckerberg shared a private phone call, as Trump declared war on Twitter after it posted a warning on his tweet that broke Twitter's rules against “glorifying violence.” We know what side you're on, Zuckerberg. https://www.axios.com/..…
@can @can on x
It's just hilarious we have to fight not trump but mark https://twitter.com/...
@boycottutah Richard Saunders on x
Trump reportedly held call with Mark Zuckerberg amid controversy over protest posts Looks like Donald is developing a new relationship. Isn't that precious? https://www.cnbc.com/...
@ceciliakang Cecilia Kang on x
Thread on Facebook employees publicly criticizing company. This never used to happen. https://twitter.com/...
@jason_kint @jason_kint on x
Chris says what every current and former Facebook employee might be saying if not tied up in their jobs and signed papers. https://twitter.com/...
@chrismasterson Chris Masterson on x
I'm grateful for the people who believed in me and the skills I learned there, but having experience there I feel cowardly not being honest about it. It's a very dangerous company and has done a significant amount of harm to the world, even when you consider the good parts.
@maxberger Max Berger on x
Congratulations to Mark Zuckerberg and @Facebook for a productive conversation with Donald Trump! Impressive you didn't let his threats of violence or the wave of police terror get in the way of your pursuit of profits and monopoly control. https://www.axios.com/...
@vanitaguptacr Vanita Gupta on x
Thank you @stirman. We need more and more of you to speak out. Change happens from pressure on the inside and from the outside. https://twitter.com/...
@can @can on x
This is a good thread of people who should come up with a list of demands like ousting of Joel Kaplan / Thiel and figure out what they will do if not. Otherwise, we'll back here in November. https://twitter.com/...
@juddlegum Judd Legum on x
Wow. Before announcing that Trump's post suggesting “looters” should be gunned down would be allowed to remain on Facebook, despite the company's clear ban on content advocating violence ZUCKERBERG PERSONALLY CALLED TRUMP and had a “productive” call https://www.axios.com/...
@mattyglesias Matthew Yglesias on x
I mean, it's a perfectly scalable solution to the goal of Mark Zuckerberg seeking favorable regulatory treatment for Facebook. Ultimately the people who work there need to decide if this is what they want to do with their lives. https://twitter.com/...
@blakehounshell @blakehounshell on x
The head of Facebook personally calling the president of the United States whenever he has an issue with one of his posts does not seem like a scalable solution. IDK, I am not a software expert. https://www.axios.com/...
@trevorphillippi Trevor Phillippi on x
FB's position is wrong and an insult to black people.
@andrewcrow Andrew on x
Facebook is working to end racial injustice. This is an important effort. #BlackLivesMatter https://twitter.com/...
@parkermolloy Parker Molloy on x
I feel like we have a right to know specifically what gets discussed on Trump's secret calls with Mark Zuckerberg https://www.axios.com/... https://twitter.com/...
@golikehellmachi Golikehellmachine on x
given this guy's resume, he can literally go anywhere else, and his resignation would actually mean something, but i am sure that posting about it will change things. https://twitter.com/...
@lindsayballant @lindsayballant on x
Everytime I see someone employed at one of the most unethical companies on earth publicly wrestle with their personal morals, I think about just how easy it will be for them to get a six-figure job somewhere else. The rest of us made this decision by not accepting the money. http…
@dommclennon @dommclennon on x
then leave and use the resources you have to be on the right side of history. we need action. https://twitter.com/...
@slpng_giants @slpng_giants on x
We're going to be hearing this a lot. When a company has rules regarding incitement to violence, hate speech and harassment and it chooses to enforce them, you can be assured that a decent number of its own employees have the moral fortitude that you do not and will leave. https:…
@jesselehrich Jesse Lehrich on x
Zuckerberg has heard the voice of the people, so he's finally... throwing $10M at civil rights orgs while refusing to change course. https://www.facebook.com/... https://twitter.com/...
@chrismasterson Chris Masterson on x
Mark thinks he's playing some sophisticated long game where he'll come out on top in the history books, but the reality is he's used his money and influence to addict and misguide people.
@andrewprojdent Andrew Hart on x
FB employees have now rejected “internal debate” and are speaking out publicly. 👏 https://twitter.com/...
@sarahfrier Sarah Frier on x
Listed as director of product design on LinkedIn https://twitter.com/... https://twitter.com/...
@mikeindustries Mike Davidson on x
If you're going to stay at a company you have problems with, this is the way to do it. The most important question to ask yourself if you're in this situation is “will ME staying result in things getting fixed?” If you can create causation, stay & fight. If you can't, move on. 👊 …
@tomcoates Tom Coates on x
$10 million dollars is roughly 1/64100th of Facebook's market cap. https://twitter.com/...
@chrismasterson Chris Masterson on x
What does Mark say to the people sitting at home looking for that next hit of dopamine being led into the land of conspiracies? Sundar? These companies are complicit. Complicated, unprecedented situation, yes. Is inaction the answer? No.
@chantayyjayy @chantayyjayy on x
@instagram @Dirujan This is nice but what does it actually mean and how will Instagram protect black content creators from racist absuse. I have to spend a lot of time filtering racist or insensitive comments online whenever I share political messages.
@lib_librarian Liberal Librarian on x
I will reiterate: I don't wish to eat all, or even 99%, of the rich. But I'll tuck into a sacrificial dinner of Mark Zuckerberg. cc @facebook you fucking awful motherfuckers. https://www.axios.com/...
@lydiadepillis Lydia DePillis on x
At this point, the strongest check on this behavior (and that of many tech companies) is Facebook's own employees. When you're irreplaceable, you can afford to have debates with your boss in public. https://www.bloomberg.com/...
@dseetharaman Deepa Seetharaman on x
head of design at Facebook Portal. https://twitter.com/... https://twitter.com/...
@vanitaguptacr Vanita Gupta on x
Wait, “Zuckerberg posted last night that FB is committing an additional $10M to groups working on racial justice.” No amount of money can absolve the fact that his inaction on Trump's tweets is directly putting Black lives and our very democracy in the line of fire. #bloodmoney h…
@schwartzesque Mattathias Schwartz on x
Now comes news from @mikeallen that Zuckerberg spoke with Trump on Friday. That same day, Zuck wrote that “accountability” can only happen when speech is “out in the open.” In other words, anything goes. Did he not learn anything from Myanmar? /5 https://www.axios.com/...
@ohthatflo @ohthatflo on x
But will continue to do nothing to fix the algorithm that surfaces hateful, harmful content. https://twitter.com/...
@notaaroncraig Craig Aaron on x
Zuckerberg is Rupert Murdoch 2.0. Classic media mogul behavior. Same playbook, increasingly same politics. https://www.axios.com/...
@manuelabat Manuela Battaglini on x
The worst advertisement you can have is when your ex-employees talk bad about your company and/or about you. https://twitter.com/...
@oscarraymundo Oscar Raymundo on x
Facebook and Instagram are donating $10 million toward efforts to end racial injustice. #BlackLivesMatter Read the full statement: https://www.instagram.com/... https://twitter.com/...
@mygdal Thomas Madsen-Mygdal on x
Director of Product Design, News Feed, Facebook. https://twitter.com/...
@iangertler @iangertler on x
@goldman @stirman You're not alone. Two dozen contacts (many friends) at FB reached out recently to talk through these issues. They're absolutely distraught about the whole situation and are coming to terms with what they should do. I appreciate you all refusing to let racism win…
@chrismasterson Chris Masterson on x
There are plenty of companies that do less than great things—that's the nature of the world we live in, unfortunately. Facebook however, represents something uniquely dangerous especially with a leader who continues to show a lack of moral character.
@inafried Ina Fried on x
A late night post from Mark Zuckerberg announcing Facebook is giving $10 million to organizations working on racial justice issues. https://www.facebook.com/...
@donie Donie O'Sullivan on x
Mark Zuckerberg spoke to President Trump on Friday, the same day Zuckerberg defended the company's handling of Trump's Facebook and Instagram posts. https://www.cnn.com/...
@rmac18 @rmac18 on x
Here's part of Zuckerberg's post. At the bottom he says that Facebook had already been in touch with the White House that day. https://twitter.com/... https://twitter.com/...
@rmac18 @rmac18 on x
On Friday, Mark Zuckerberg wrote in a post that Facebook has been in touch with the White House to discuss its policies. Axios now reporting Zuckerberg specifically had a call with Trump, something he didn't mention in his original post. https://www.axios.com/...
@schwartzesque Mattathias Schwartz on x
Zuckerberg's position is that “when the looting starts, the shooting starts” is something that “people should be able to see for themselves.” He doesn't mention the fact that calls for violence print money for his company by driving engagement. /6 https://www.axios.com/...
@zeynep Zeynep Tufekci on x
Trump and Zuckerberg just had a phone call “described by both sides as productive.” Meanwhile, Trump's “shooting/looting” posts remain up on Facebook. Zuckerberg also made sure to go on Fox News to say he disagreed with Twitter putting a warning on them. https://www.axios.com/...
@atalba Al Alba on x
Zuckerberg cannot acknowledge his platform of good is far less impactful than his platform of evil. The money looks the same. @facebook is evil! https://www.axios.com/...
@ursulaperano Ursula Perano on x
An @Axios scoop via @MikeAllen: @realDonaldTrump had a call on Friday with Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg that was described by both sides as productive. The chat comes as Trump is taking on Twitter over their checks on his tweets. https://www.axios.com/...
@karissabe Karissa Bell on x
Zuckerberg said he had a “visceral negative” reaction to Trump's words but he had already talked on the phone to Trump https://www.axios.com/...
@dseetharaman Deepa Seetharaman on x
Zuckerberg said Friday that “we have been in touch with the White House today to explain these policies as well.” https://www.facebook.com/... Now Axios is reporting that the “we” was Zuckerberg himself and the president. What was said and how did it shape MZ's thinking? https://…
@jamarlinmartin Jamarlin Martin on x
Zuckerberg is cutting the same deal he did with Obama & Plouffe: No regulations on Facebook and we will do our best to help you. https://twitter.com/...
@oversightboard Oversight Board on x
[Thread] Facebook Oversight Board says it is “working hard to set the Board up to begin operating later this year”

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