Alexis Ohanian Sr, a co-founder of the social news website Reddit, has resigned amid massive protests over George Floyd’s killing. He urged for his position to be filled by a black person, and for other white CEOs to follow suit.
Ohanian, Reddit’s executive head also known by the username kn0thing, announced his decision in a statement on his website, as well as in a series of Twitter posts and a video he published on Instagram. “I co-founded Reddit 15 years ago to help people find community and a sense of belonging,” he said, adding that his resignation was “the right thing” and has been “long overdue.”
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
— Alexis Ohanian Sr. 🚀 (@alexisohanian) June 5, 2020
“I’m doing this for me, for my family, and for my country,” said the entrepreneur, who is married to professional tennis player Serena Williams. The two have a daughter, and Ohanian said his decision was particularly influenced by the fact that he would have to “answer his black daughter when she asks: ‘What did you do?’”
