Andromeda Yelton

You don't have to have committed a crime to be removed as ED. You don't need to have demonstrated incompetence. (Although those are great reasons to remove someone.) The board simply has to decide the interests of the organization would be better served with someone else. 2/

That's it! Your ED doesn't represent the org as you want it to be represented? They were amazing at a different point in your org's history but things change and now it needs a leader with different strengths? These are legit reasons for a board to find new leadership. 3/

So for the @FSF board to in effect say, yes, huge numbers of people have known for decades that RMS's behavior is awful, people leave free software or decline to participate in order to avoid him, but he gets to keep the job? That's saying... 4/

That's saying all those losses do not pose an meaningful threat to the mission of the organization (promoting computer user freedom & defending software user rights). That's saying women whispering to each other about broccoli is an OK way for the org to be represented. 5/

That's saying that whatever strengths RMS brings are enough to counterbalance those problems. How does THAT math work? Is there truly not a pool of other nonprofit leaders who could more effectively advance the mission? (Spoiler: there is.) 6/

Having been through such transitions, I understand approaching them with trepidation; they're grueling even when hugely necessary. But it's so, so worth biting that bullet. And sometimes that's the only way to adhere to one's board member duties of loyalty and care. 7/