Tech giants pledge funds to fight racial injustice – CNET

Apple, Facebook, Verizon and other tech giants are pledging to make donations to groups battling racial injustice after last week’s killing of George Floyd sparked unrest across the US. 

In a memo to Apple employees, as reported by Bloomberg, CEO Tim Cook promised that Apple would make donations to several groups, including the Equal Justice Initiative, and match all employee donations two-to-one. The company didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment.

Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg said in a Sunday post that the social network is “committing an additional $10 million” to such groups, and noted that it’s working with civil rights advisers and employees to figure out the ideal recipients. He also expressed gratitude to Darnella Frazier for posting the video of Floyd’s encounter with police.

Read more: Jack Dorsey, Mark Zuckerberg and the fight for social media’s soul

Verizon will donate $10 million to various groups, CEO Hans Vestberg said in a livestreamed address Monday, including the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund and the National Urban League.

Intel on Sunday pledged $1 million, CEO Bob Swan noted in a memo. He also encouraged employees to donate to the Black Lives Matter Foundation, the Center for Policing Equity and the NAACP Legal Defense Fund. Donations to those groups, he noted, are eligible for the company’s matching program. 

Google-owned YouTube tweeted its promise of $1 million in support Saturday. “We stand in solidarity against racism and violence. When members of our community hurt, we all hurt,” the company wrote.

The nationwide protests followed Floyd’s death in Minneapolis on May 25. According to Frazier’s video, other footage and prosecutors, a police officer presses his knee on Floyd’s neck for nearly nine minutes while Floyd, who is handcuffed and on the ground, says repeatedly “I can’t breathe.”

Floyd, who was 46, was taken away in an ambulance and later pronounced dead. Authorities on Friday charged the now-fired officer, Derek Chauvin, with third-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter.  The three other offices involved were fired and are under investigation.

Taking a ‘stand for equality’

Here’s what some other tech companies have said amid the protests.

Microsoft: CEO Satya Nadella on Monday tweeted that there’s no place for hate and racism in our society. The company said it would use its platform to “amplify voices from the black and African American community at Microsoft.”

Disney: Disney on Sunday tweeted an image with a message unity, saying the company stands with “black employees, storytellers, creators and the entire black community.” In a message to employees, Disney executives Bob Chapek, Bob Iger and Latondra Newton said the company will use its resources to “compassionately and constructively talk” about diversity and inclusion. 

Amazon: “The inequitable and brutal treatment of black people in our country must stop,” the e-commerce giant said in a message posted to Twitter. “Together we stand in solidarity with the black community — our employees, customers and partners — in the fight against systemic racism and injustice.”

AT&T: The mobile carrier said in a message shared on Twitter that its “advocacy toward equality and inclusivity continues today and will for the future.”

T-Mobile: “Racism, hatred, inequality must have no place in our world,” the mobile carrier tweeted on Saturday. “Every person has the right to feel safe, seen and heard.”

Netflix: The streaming giant on Saturday tweeted that it has “a duty to our black members, employees, creators and talent to speak up,” adding the message “black lives matter.”

Hulu: “We support black lives. Today, and every day,” the streaming service said in a tweet on Saturday. “You are seen. You are heard. And we are with you.”

Instagram: “We stand against racism. We stand with our black community — and all those working toward justice in honor of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Ahmaud Arbery and far too many others whose names will not be forgotten,” the social media company said in a tweet on Monday. 

HBO: “We stand with our black colleagues, employees, fans, actors, storytellers — and all affected by senseless violence,” the company said in a tweet on Saturday.  

TikTok: “We deeply value the diverse voices among our users, creators, artists, partners, and employees,” the video-sharing app said in a tweet on Saturday. “We are committed to fostering a space where everyone is seen and heard.”