Re: [Wikimedia-l] The other side of the crisis at WMFR

-- *Vereniging Wikimedia Nederland* Mariaplaats 3 - 3511 LH Utrecht Kamer van Koophandel 17189036 http://www.wikimedia.nl/ 2017-10-20 13:49 GMT+02:00 Rémi Mathis mathis.remi@gmail.com: > Katherine, > > I told you a month ago "Maybe you should reply as a responsible human being > and not as a trained crisis communication people". This is truer everyday. > > What did you write this email yesterday, and not one,two, three months ago? > Because I left Wikimedia France, because a Fields Medallist left, because > the president of Picasso Museum left, and because journalists began to talk > about the harassment and the violence of some members of the community. > Because the fact that Nathalie Martin had filed a complaint against > Christophe Henner begins to spread not only amongst the community but also > outside. > Because the articles made people aware of the problem and that they are > victims too, and new testimonies are being sent to journalists. > Because you met Christophe Henner in person the day before. > > Because you are doing your job to protect your boss and make as little > noise as possible. But when I donate to Wikimedia, when I edit Wikipedia, > that's not what I want from you. I want a safe community. > > I wrote to you, Christophe and your team more than ten times between July > and today. I even met your Legal Conselor and Christophe Henner to talk > about the harassment. I never got an email back from you. Not a single word > to a private message I sent. You only answered once on Twitter, because it > was a public conversation. > > Now, I'm for you "an individual", you never only *say my name*. > At the same time, I receive a letter from Henner's lawyer trying to make me > remove my post. > Still keeping people quiet instead of accepting and therefore tackling the > problems. > > I spent nine years working for the movement as a benevolent member. I have > been chair for 3 years, I worked 9-12pm for the movement for years, I was > threatened by the French Intelligence Service. And thanks to this > dedication, I made a lot of friends ; I met a lot of extraordinay people ; > we contracted with the Bibliothèque nationale, Versailles Palace, > Ministries, etc. We made a huge and very good job. > > Now, do you really think I'm leaving with no reason? Do you really think > I'm a liar or frivolous? Do you think I'm being manipulated by an evil > witch we had to get rid of - as some say to journalists and some add (with > neutrality of course) to the Wikipedia article about me? > > Denouncing the violence, I'm losing 30 of my closest friends, stopping one > of my favouriste activities and canceling 9 years of my life. > > Sending an email like this one, "managing" instead of "caring", you only do > the job you're getting paid for. > But, maybe you also realise that you are shatterring lives of > "individuals"... who have no names. But since we don't even have names, > since there is no violence or harassment problem to deal with, I'm sure you > will never have any problem to look at yourself in a mirror. > > Even Hollywood is facing the violence and harassment problem. Wikimedia > still doesn't. > I'm sad. But now I'm only sad for you and one of the greatest human > projects of the time, you are currently making vile and foul. > As for me, it's over. > > X, individual [used to be] associated with our movement > > > > > On 19 October 2017 at 23:19, Katherine Maher kmaher@wikimedia.org wrote: > > > Everyone, > > > > The past six months have been a complex and troubling time for our > > community in France. Let me be absolutely clear, with no confusion or > > ambiguity, that the Wikimedia Foundation condemns harassment. We take all > > harassment claims seriously, investigate them promptly, and take the > > appropriate action to enforce our policies whenever necessary. My goal > here > > today is to provide more information about the actions of the Wikimedia > > Foundation, the principles to which we adhere, and the situation in which > > our movement finds itself. > > > > As many of you know, there have been months of discussion within the > French > > Wikimedia community, independent committees and governance bodies, and > the > > Wikimedia Foundation about the governance and operations of Wikimédia > > France. During this time, we have seen growing tensions between a number > of > > the former leaders of Wikimédia France and some members of the French > > Wikimedia community. This situation created great strain on the French > > community, former and current staff of Wikimédia France, and concerned > > Wikimedia volunteers around the world. Much of this was documented by > > community members[1] and in the press.[2] Over the past months the > > Foundation has received formal and informal complaints alleging > harassment > > and other harmful behaviour, and we have enforced existing policies > > whenever applicable. > > > > Recently, an individual associated with our movement published an essay > > about the events in France on the blogging site Medium and shared that > > essay with this list. It contained a number of deeply concerning > > allegations of harassment. Let me first address the most troubling claims > > of the recent essay—those regarding the Foundation’s handling of > > allegations against the Wikimedia Foundation’s current Board Chair. > > > > In May of 2017 the Wikimedia Foundation was informed, in a letter and for > > the first time, that the then-Executive Director of Wikimédia France was > > alleging claims of harassment against the current Board Chair of the > > Wikimedia Foundation, dating back to his tenure as former Chair of > > Wikimédia France. In this letter the Executive Director described a > number > > of interactions with the Foundation’s Board Chair when he was Chair of > > Wikimédia France, and went on to accuse him of using his position as > > Foundation Board Chair to to turn the Wikimedia Foundation’s sentiment > > against the French chapter. > > > > Contrary to the assertion in the Medium essay, while the former Wikimédia > > France Executive Director’s letter detailed tense and disagreeable > > interactions between the two individuals, it did not characterize those > > interactions as sexual harassment. Also contrary to the essay’s > assertions, > > the Wikimedia Foundation took immediate and appropriate action after > > receiving the complaint. > > > > The Wikimedia Foundation, under clear direction from our Board, responded > > promptly: > > > > - We notified the Vice Chair and Board Governance Chair immediately > > after receiving the then-Executive Director’s letter. > > - Under their direction and supervision, we promptly hired expert > French > > legal counsel to conduct an investigation on this issue. > > - The Foundation Board Chair was informed of the investigation and > > recused from all relevant discussions. The Board Chair was also > recused > > from any discussion regarding Wikimédia France and the French > Wikimedia > > community, including any participation in funding decisions. > > - The investigation by the experts found that the French chapter’s > > Executive Director’s detailed statements of facts, in addition to not > > being > > characterized by her as sexual harassment, also did not support a > > finding > > of sexual harassment. > > - Based on the information provided, French counsel also looked at > > whether the allegations supported a finding of “moral” harassment, > > ultimately concluding that they did not. > > - The findings were conveyed to the then-chair of the board of > Wikimédia > > France. The chapter leadership was asked on more than one occasion if > it > > had any additional evidence or wished to further discuss the > > conclusions. > > No additional information was provided. > > - Under these circumstances, the Board of the Wikimedia Foundation > found > > no merit to the charges. > > > > > > *As has been repeatedly stated, the Foundation remains fully committed to > > reviewing and investigating additional information, if presented, of > sexual > > or other harassment allegedly committed by any Wikimedia Foundation staff > > or board member. We fully condemn harassment in the Wikimedia movement.* > > > > The essay in Medium also references experiences of a number of former > > Wikimédia France Board members who reportedly left their posts because of > > alleged harassment from French Wikimedia community members. In the > majority > > of these cases, the Wikimedia Foundation has not received complaints and > > has no further information about these allegations. > > > > We are aware that some people working at the Foundation for some months > > have received comments from a number of community members through > informal > > channels about alleged intra-community harassment. These included > > complaints and allegations of harassment made against the former > Wikimédia > > France Executive Director and then-Board Chair by Wikimédia France staff > > and community members, as well as counter-complaints from former > Wikimédia > > France board members against members of the French community. In each > > instance of which we are aware, the individual raising the complaint was > > directed to the Wikimedia Foundation’s Support and Safety team, which is > > trained and equipped to independently investigate and assess these > matters, > > particularly where members of the larger Wikimedia community are > concerned. > > > > In total, the Foundation received roughly a dozen of these complaints. > Each > > of these complaints received by the Foundation was investigated and > > responded to promptly, enforcing the relevant anti-harassment policies > > whenever appropriate. In some cases, and when appropriate, our response > > resulted in content (for example, content that identified Wikimedia > > community members who guarded their anonymity) being removed from public > > websites or the Foundation contacting users who posted inappropriate > > material. In others, we found that while certain comments at times > crossed > > the lines of civility, the actions did not meet the threshold of sanction > > under our policies or constitute intentional or sustained patterns of > > harassment. > > > > As a cumulative result of these complaints, the Wikimedia Foundation has > > recommended to Wikimédia France that they take immediate steps to > implement > > a friendly space policy. At the chapter’s exceptional September general > > assembly, the motion to develop and implement a friendly space policy > > passed with overwhelming support, with 98% of the membership voting in > > favor.[3] The Wikimedia Foundation has offered Wikimédia France our > > assistance with this policy’s composition and implementation. > > > > We are committed to working with the new Wikimédia France conseil > > d’administration (governing board) to support the French community as > they > > work to address and resolve these and other outstanding issues. The > > Wikimedia Foundation and the new leadership of Wikimédia France are > already > > cooperating to address the governance-related concerns raised by the > > volunteer Funds Dissemination Committee in the first half of 2017. As > part > > of this work, we have encouraged them to review how they will > independently > > handle claims of harassment in the future. The Wikimedia Foundation and > > Wikimédia France share a common goal: a healthy, welcoming, respectful, > > inclusive Wikimedia community in France. > > > > I know I am not alone in my dismay for how these events have unfolded. > Many > > dedicated, good-faith members of the French community, including current > > community members and present and former Wikimédia France board and staff > > members, have experienced distress and anxiety over recent months. Those > > outside of the community have watched with dismay as our peers and > friends > > have found themselves disoriented, distressed, alienated, or at odds with > > one another. And yet we also know that many in France now feel a renewed > > sense of purpose for building the healthy and welcoming community we all > > desire. > > > > Situations such as the recent events in France provide us with an > > opportunity to learn from the past in order to do better in the future. > We > > have seen this time and again in our communities, as organizations > > (including the Wikimedia Foundation) have emerged from governance and > other > > challenges stronger, with deepened commitments to openness, > collaboration, > > and humility. > > > > Today is another such opportunity. > > > > Katherine > > > > [1] https://www.mathisbenguigui.eu/wikimedia-timeline/ > > > > [2] > > http://www.lemonde.fr/pixels/article/2017/09/11/vers-une- > > sortie-de-crise-a-wikimedia-france_5184101_4408996.html > > > > http://tempsreel.nouvelobs.com/rue89/rue89-nos-vies- > > connectees/20170718.OBS2248/exclusions-menaces-budget- > > recale-c-est-la-crise-chez-wikimedia-france.html > > > > > > [3] > > https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/04/ > > WMFR_AG_2017-09-09.pdf/page1-2550px-WMFR_AG_2017-09-09.pdf.jpg > > > > > > On Thu, Oct 12, 2017 at 12:55 PM, Caroline Becker < > carobecker54@gmail.com> > > wrote: > > > > > Hi Emeric, > > > > > > I am very pleased that you take mental health seriously. I remember, > not > > so > > > long ago, that your actions while you were in Wikimedia France had > > serious > > > impact on the mental health of at least two of your members. > > > > > > In January, someone had a meltdown just in front of you. Could you > remind > > > us what you did after that ? > > > > > > In April, you learnt that your actions as a chair caused me a medical > > > leave. What can the Foundation and the movement as a whole learn about > > how > > > you dealt with the situation ? > > > > > > Warmly, > > > > > > Caroline > > > > > > 2017-10-12 12:39 GMT+02:00 Emeric Vallespi <emeric.vallespi@gmail.com > >: > > > > > > > Dear Maria, > > > > Dear all, > > > > > > > > The Wikimedia Foundation board of trustees, the executive and the > legal > > > > management of the Wikimedia Foundation have been informed of Nathalie > > > > Martin's complaint against her former employer now member of your > > board, > > > > and then of the criminal complaint against this same person (facts > from > > > his > > > > time in Wikimédia France and other from his time in your Board). > > > > > > > > It would have been logical for a board of trustees member to gather > her > > > > testimony. No one has sought to make contact with her. Why? > > > > At the very least, the Wikimedia Foundation board of trustees could > > have > > > > requested a copy of the complaint, as well as the various > testimonies, > > so > > > > that they could study them and make their opinion. We had no > > > solicitation. > > > > Why? > > > > From what I see, the Wikimedia Foundation has done everything to > stifle > > > > the problem. Here is the only initiative WMF has taken: paid > > "independent > > > > lawyers" (a concept unknown to me…) to "question Christophe". He > > > responded, > > > > to the general surprise, that there was no problem. > > > > Do you really feel that this is a serious investigation? Honestly? > > > > Why did not these lawyers also hear Nathalie? > > > > Why did these lawyers not ask questions to the Wikimédia France Board > > of > > > > trustees members? Only with the testimony of the defendant himself, > the > > > > Wikimedia Foundation today states that there is no problem. ... > > > > During the site visit, Nathalie proposed to the Wikimedia Foundation > > > > representatives to organize a confrontation. Not only did she have a > > flat > > > > denial, but, moreover, it was replied that it must not be addressed. > > > > Why did the Wikimedia Foundation not accede to this request for > > > > confrontation? Not to know the truth which can be too embarrassing to > > > > assume? > > > > > > > > We have a movement employee who brilliantly held management > > > > responsibilities for 4 years (great longevity for an Executive > > Director…) > > > > who asked for help. And what is the answer of the movement, of the > > > > Wikimedia Foundation? Nothing. Nothing was undertaken to give her any > > > kind > > > > of listening or help. > > > > > > > > Marie-Alice Mathis, who courageously expressed disapproval of the > > sexist > > > > harassment of Nathalie, was also harassed by community members. > > Nathalie > > > > and Marie-Alice suffered health damages and had medical leaves issued > > by > > > > real general practitioners. The Wikimedia Foundation was informed and > > > what > > > > did you do? Nothing, or worst: two messages from your staff > > legitimizing > > > > the harassment and one from a member of your board who publicly > stated > > > > against Wikimédia France without any prior contact with us. > > > > What kind of help or support did you offer to Marie-Alice? > > > > > > > > The outcome of the complaints is not even the issue at this stage and > > > this > > > > is not my point (I’m not a judge as you or other community member > think > > > > they are). > > > > The real problem is that today a man in the movement, if he has power > > > > position, can do absolutely everything he wants without any control. > > The > > > > problem is, despite all the empty values you’re communicating on, you > > > > legitimize whatever the community does. Because the community is the > > > > measure of all things. > > > > No objective process is foreseen to protect women (and more > generally, > > > > people) or at least to hear them. > > > > Do you find this normal for a movement that advocates inclusiveness > and > > > > respect? > > > > > > > > I’ve read an ardent defender of epicene style of writing who is > > accusing > > > > of lying other women because of their private then public > declarations. > > > > Having no clue of what is in the procedure. Thank you for > enlightening > > me > > > > about true fight with feminism. > > > > > > > > I’m glad that « We take all allegations of harassment seriously », > but > > I > > > > can not endorse this functioning which goes against legality and > simply > > > > against human values. > > > > > > > > N.B: English is not my native language, may you be as tolerant of my > > > > selected words or sentences construction as with harassing behavior. > > > Thanks > > > > for your understanding. > > > > > > > > Regards, > > > > -- > > > > Emeric Vallespi > > > > > > > > > On 11 Oct 2017, at 19:54, María Sefidari kewlshrink@gmail.com > > wrote: > > > > > > > > > > Dear all, > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > We would like to specifically address the allegations related to > > > > harassment > > > > > in this thread’s original email. We take all allegations of > > harassment > > > > > seriously. Earlier this year, the Board of Trustees was informed > that > > > > > allegations of harassment had been made against the Wikimedia > > > Foundation > > > > > Board Chair dating back to his time as chair of Wikimédia France. > We > > > > > immediately directed the Foundation to investigate. The Foundation > > > > employed > > > > > independent, external experts and conducted an investigation. Based > > on > > > > the > > > > > information presented, the investigation found no support for the > > > > > allegations. That conclusion was conveyed to the Wikimedia > Foundation > > > > Board > > > > > as well as the chair of Wikimédia France. > > > > > > > > > > The Wikimedia Foundation remains committed to independent > > investigation > > > > if > > > > > presented with new information. Absent such information, we > consider > > > the > > > > > allegations to be without merit. > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > On behalf of the Board, > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > María Sefidari > > > > > > > > > > El 8 oct. 2017 5:20, "John Erling Blad" jeblad@gmail.com > escribió: > > > > > > > > > > When I first saw the posts I thought it would probably be more > > opinions > > > > to > > > > > them than the very clear blame-game that were going on. Having a > > partly > > > > > anonymous community and a chapter that only represents some of the > > > users > > > > > are an invitation to fierce battles. > > > > > > > > > > Whatever going on at WMFR, I believe it is time for reevaluating > the > > > role > > > > > of WMF in this. I'm wondering if there should be a new board for > WMF, > > > > > unless they get a new chair themselves asap. Reorganize, solve the > > > > > problems, and move on. > > > > > > > > > > No, I do not know any of the people involved. > > > > > > > > > > John Erling Blad > > > > > /jeblad > > > > > > > > > > On Fri, Oct 6, 2017 at 3:11 PM, Marie-Alice Mathis < > > > > > mariealice.gariel@gmail.com> wrote: > > > > > > > > > >> Hello all, > > > > >> > > > > >> I haven’t had a real opportunity to introduce myself: I am > > Marie-Alice > > > > >> Mathis, 32, a now ex-member of the Board of Wikimédia France. > > > > >> > > > > >> The transition with the newly elected members of the Board is now > > > > complete > > > > >> and I gladly step down to get away from the violence, exhaustion > and > > > > >> frustration of these past few months. > > > > >> > > > > >> I was a Board candidate because after completing my PhD I finally > > had > > > > more > > > > >> time to contribute to the projects and serve the community through > > the > > > > >> French chapter: after watching my husband Rémi Mathis do it for > > years > > > I > > > > > had > > > > >> a pretty good idea of what it meant. I did not know our ED > Nathalie > > > > Martin > > > > >> or our chair Émeric Vallespi before working with them, and now > that > > I > > > > have > > > > >> I can vouch for their hard work and attachment to the movement’s > > > values. > > > > >> > > > > >> Today, I have lost friends or people I thought were friends > because > > I > > > > >> defended Nathalie and Émeric in good faith during the smear > campaign > > > > based > > > > >> on the community’s assumption that they were the source and cause > of > > > all > > > > >> the chapter’s problems, real or perceived. Although I have worked > > with > > > > > them > > > > >> closely for a year, I have been repeatedly informed that I’ve been > > > > >> manipulated by Nathalie from the start and should not have blindly > > > > > believed > > > > >> everything Émeric was saying. I’ve been personally attacked on WMF > > > > sites, > > > > >> email lists, and social media for weeks, my every word > scrutinised, > > > > >> questioned and mocked assuming I was either ignorant or lying. > I’ve > > > been > > > > >> told by so-called feminists who were endorsing a particularly > sexist > > > > rant > > > > >> against me to “stop making inflammatory comments”. I’ve been > called > > a > > > > >> conspiracy theorist because I questioned the role of our former > > chair > > > > >> Christophe Henner, now chair of the Board at the WMF, in the > threats > > > to > > > > >> withdraw our chapter agreement and the cutting of half our FDC > > > funding. > > > > >> People close to Christophe who have resigned from the WMFR Board > > early > > > > in > > > > >> the crisis rather than take responsibility for their mistakes now > > call > > > > >> themselves victims and whistleblowers. The WMF, who is perfectly > > aware > > > > of > > > > >> the charges of sexual harassment filed by Nathalie against > > Christophe > > > > for > > > > >> facts dating back to when he was her boss at Wikimédia France, is > > > > >> pretending WMFR leadership has used the threat of legal action to > > > > >> intimidate chapter members and silence opposition. > > > > >> > > > > >> Some unfounded allegations have been made on this very list by > > > prominent > > > > >> members of the community (and what is a newbie’s word worth in > that > > > > case, > > > > >> right?): from extremely serious accusations of misuse of chapter > > funds > > > > for > > > > >> personal gain (that strangely enough never made it to the French > > > justice > > > > >> system despite a so-called “rather convincing rationale”), to > > > gratuitous > > > > >> ones that Nathalie was making the Board’s decisions for us and > > > dictating > > > > >> our communication (I am old enough to write my own emails, thank > you > > > > very > > > > >> much), to ever vague ones of “quite generous expenses > > reimbursement“. > > > > None > > > > >> of this has been supported by proof or tangible facts, but the > goal > > of > > > > >> spreading distrust and dissent in the chapter and the wider > > community > > > > has > > > > >> clearly been reached. Even now that Nathalie has left her position > > and > > > > the > > > > >> Board has resigned, some are still defaming her in the French > media > > in > > > > the > > > > >> hopes of winning the stupid argument of who were the bad guys in > the > > > > >> crisis. > > > > >> > > > > >> I am also extremely disappointed that no one from this list asked > us > > > > (the > > > > >> Board) what was happening when these allegations were made, with > > only > > > a > > > > >> handful of people suggesting to wait before all the facts were > > known. > > > > >> Instead, you took for granted the very short and extremely biased > > > > English > > > > >> summaries of the Board’s communications (which were instantly > > > circulated > > > > > on > > > > >> this list without our consent and in violation of our chapter’s > > > bylaws), > > > > >> and joined in the chorus of outrage, condemnation and verbal > abuse. > > > > >> > > > > >> But worse to me than all this, I am actually terrified at how > easily > > > the > > > > >> Wikimedia community can turn on a person, with no regard > whatsoever > > > for > > > > >> decency or legality, when it has made up its mind about who has no > > > place > > > > >> there. I have personally experienced what it means to disagree > with > > > this > > > > >> angry mob: questioning the dominant opinion or calling out > > > individuals’ > > > > >> toxic behaviour makes you in turn acceptable collateral damage > and a > > > > “fair > > > > >> game” target for harassment. > > > > >> > > > > >> Speaking of this, the movement as a whole needs to address the > issue > > > of > > > > >> staff-volunteers relations exemplified by the rapid turnover of > > > > executive > > > > >> staff across chapters. Nathalie stayed at WMFR an almost record > > > > breaking 4 > > > > >> years, but at what cost? I’m being extremely serious in adding > that > > > this > > > > >> conversation needs to take place before something irreversible > > happens > > > > as > > > > > a > > > > >> result of harmful group behaviour within the community. > > > > >> > > > > >> Sincerely, > > > > >> Marie-Alice Mathis // AlienSpoon > > > > >> > > > > >> > > > > >> PS: for your information about my position regarding the WMF’s > role > > in > > > > > this > > > > >> crisis and their recent unilaterally added conditions [ > > > > >> https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Grant_expectations_for_ > > > > >> Wikimedia_France_-_2017-2018] > > > > >> for payment of our FDC-attributed grant, I attach my email to Katy > > > Love > > > > >> from Sept 20. > > > > >> > > > > >> Katy, (Cc WMFr Board and Rémi) > > > > >> > > > > >> In the WMF "Grant expectations" document sent to the Board of > WMFr, > > > you > > > > >> mention as a condition for APG funds payment that I do not resign > > from > > > > my > > > > >> position on the Board until the governance review is complete, and > > > that > > > > > any > > > > >> Board member planning to resign must report and justify it to WMF. > > > > >> > > > > >> You also mention that you retain the right to cease funding WMFr > if > > > you > > > > >> consider that legal threats are being used inappropriately to > stifle > > > > civil > > > > >> and appropriate participation in the chapter. Moreover, you > > condition > > > > >> payment to being informed if the chapter leadership feels that > legal > > > > > action > > > > >> is appropriate to take against current or former board members or > > > staff. > > > > >> > > > > >> Let me be clear: these conditions are outrageous and unacceptable. > > > > >> > > > > >> First of all, my legitimacy as a Board member of WMFr does not > come > > > from > > > > >> any commitment to WMF but from being democratically elected by > > French > > > > >> chapter members. WMF has no say in who stays or not on the Board, > > and > > > > >> trying to intervene on such governance issues is, again, putting > > both > > > > >> organisations at risk of being legally recognised as co-employers. > > > > >> > > > > >> Second, as a (volunteer) Board member I have been subjected to > > > > harassment, > > > > >> sexist abuse, and unjustified allegations of misconduct by > community > > > > >> members, that have impacted my health and mental well being to the > > > point > > > > >> where I was no longer able to do my (paid) job in cancer patient > > care > > > > and > > > > >> my GP put me on medical leave. A large volume of this abuse took > > place > > > > on > > > > >> WMF property (fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipédia:Le_Bistro > http://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikip%C3%A9dia:Le_Bistro > > http://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikip%C3%A9dia:Le_Bistro > > > http://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikip%C3%A9dia:Le_Bistro > > > > http://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikip%C3%A9dia:Le_Bistro > > > > > http://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikip%C3%A9dia:Le_Bistro > > > > >> http://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikip%C3%A9dia:Le_Bistro > > > > >> http://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikip%C3%A9dia:Le_Bistro and the > > > > >> WMF-hosted, > > > > >> publicly archived mailing lists wikimedia-l and wikimediafr). > > > > >> You personally and on behalf of WMF encouraged French community > > > members > > > > to > > > > >> challenge chapter leadership citing governance issues, without a > > word > > > > >> mentioning the violence suffered by the Board and executive staff > at > > > the > > > > >> hands of some French members during this crisis. Worse, you > > presented > > > > the > > > > >> Board's email condemning the harassment as inaccurate and > > problematic, > > > > >> which made the community feel all the more legitimate in their > > harmful > > > > >> attacks. > > > > >> When I reported the abuse in person to WMF employees during the > site > > > > visit > > > > >> you personally empathised with my distress at the time, and > thanked > > me > > > > for > > > > >> being honest about how your email to the wikimediafr list had made > > our > > > > >> already precarious situation untenable. And then you did nothing. > > > > >> My husband Rémi, who witnessed first hand the effects of the > > > harassment > > > > on > > > > >> my health, called on you to release the site visit report so the > > > > > misconduct > > > > >> allegations would stop. You didn't, until 3 days before our > General > > > > >> Assembly (where the allegations were repeated), on the same day > you > > > > asked > > > > >> that I stay on as a Board member. Even your choice of words in the > > > > "Grant > > > > >> expectations" document is telling: "egregious incivility" is not > > what > > > we > > > > >> are talking about here. We are talking about unacceptable and > > illegal > > > > >> defamation and harassment with serious real life consequences. > > > > >> Rémi also called on the wikimedia-l list to stop the unfounded > > > > > allegations, > > > > >> and was attacked in turn because of "his conflict of interest as > the > > > > >> husband of a Board member". He also reported the abuse to the WMF > > > > >> governance committee, to the Suport and Safety team and mentioned > it > > > to > > > > >> Christophe Henner and Katherine Maher on Twitter, to no avail. To > > this > > > > day > > > > >> we haven't received any support or acknowledgement whatsoever. All > > the > > > > >> while the sexist abuse continues, and French editor MrButler was > > > > moderated > > > > >> on the wikimediafr maling list for his continued personal attacks > > > > against > > > > >> me. This is exactly the kind of behaviour the Board's email to the > > > > members > > > > >> was calling out, yet you continue to deliberately ignore it and > > refuse > > > > to > > > > >> do anything about it. > > > > >> > > > > >> Finally, your asking to be informed of any legal action against > > > chapter > > > > >> members or staff is yet another example of the WMF taking sides > > while > > > > >> posing as a neutral arbitrator. Calling someone out on their toxic > > > > >> behaviour or actually filing a complaint are no legal threats or > > > > >> intimidation, but by claiming they are you are trying to silence > > > victims > > > > > by > > > > >> denying them their basic rights to legal protection. At least two > > > > >> complaints have been filed against community members and more may > be > > > > >> coming, including on my behalf. You will not be informed because > it > > is > > > > not > > > > >> for WMF to decide whether they are justified or frivolous. > > > > >> > > > > >> For all these reasons I am deeply shocked and hurt by your payment > > > > >> conditions and will not abide by the terms of your grant > > expectations. > > > > > With > > > > >> most of WMFr funding hanging in the balance your unilaterally > > revised > > > > >> conditions amount to blackmail but I will not stay in harm's way > at > > > the > > > > >> request of the organisation who has failed me in every aspect > when I > > > > came > > > > >> in good faith to work for the community. I will resign when I see > > fit > > > to > > > > >> protect my health, and continue to speak honestly and publicly > about > > > > your > > > > >> actions and empty words of safety and inclusivity. > > > > >> > > > > >> Sincerely, > > > > >> Marie-Alice Mathis, vice chair of WMFr > > > > >> _______________________________________________ > > > > >> Wikimedia-l mailing list, guidelines at: > > https://meta.wikimedia.org/ > > > > >> wiki/Mailing_lists/Guidelines and https://meta.wikimedia.org/ > > > > >> wiki/Wikimedia-l > > > > >> New messages to: Wikimedia-l@lists.wikimedia.org > > > > >> Unsubscribe: https://lists.wikimedia.org/ > > mailman/listinfo/wikimedia-l > > > , > > > > >> mailto:wikimedia-l-request@lists.wikimedia.org?subject= > unsubscribe> > > > > > _______________________________________________ > > > > > Wikimedia-l mailing list, guidelines at: > https://meta.wikimedia.org/ > > > > > wiki/Mailing_lists/Guidelines and https://meta.wikimedia.org/ > > > > > wiki/Wikimedia-l > > > > > New messages to: Wikimedia-l@lists.wikimedia.org > > > > > Unsubscribe: https://lists.wikimedia.org/ > > mailman/listinfo/wikimedia-l, > > > > > mailto:wikimedia-l-request@lists.wikimedia.org?subject= unsubscribe> > > > > > _______________________________________________ > > > > > Wikimedia-l mailing list, guidelines at: > https://meta.wikimedia.org/ > > > > wiki/Mailing_lists/Guidelines and https://meta.wikimedia.org/ > > > > wiki/Wikimedia-l > > > > > New messages to: Wikimedia-l@lists.wikimedia.org > > > > > Unsubscribe: https://lists.wikimedia.org/ > > mailman/listinfo/wikimedia-l, > > > > mailto:wikimedia-l-request@lists.wikimedia.org?subject=unsubscribe > > > > _______________________________________________ > > > > Wikimedia-l mailing list, guidelines at: https://meta.wikimedia.org/ > > > > wiki/Mailing_lists/Guidelines and https://meta.wikimedia.org/ > > > > wiki/Wikimedia-l > > > > New messages to: Wikimedia-l@lists.wikimedia.org > > > > Unsubscribe: https://lists.wikimedia.org/ > mailman/listinfo/wikimedia-l, > > > > mailto:wikimedia-l-request@lists.wikimedia.org?subject=unsubscribe > > > > > > > _______________________________________________ > > > Wikimedia-l mailing list, guidelines at: https://meta.wikimedia.org/ > > > wiki/Mailing_lists/Guidelines and https://meta.wikimedia.org/ > > > wiki/Wikimedia-l > > > New messages to: Wikimedia-l@lists.wikimedia.org > > > Unsubscribe: https://lists.wikimedia.org/mailman/listinfo/wikimedia-l, > > > mailto:wikimedia-l-request@lists.wikimedia.org?subject=unsubscribe > > > > > > > > > > > -- > > Katherine Maher > > Executive Director > > > > *We moved! **Our new address:* > > > > Wikimedia Foundation > > 1 Montgomery Street, Suite 1600 > > San Francisco, CA 94104 > > > > +1 (415) 839-6885 ext. 6635 > > +1 (415) 712 4873 > > kmaher@wikimedia.org > > https://annual.wikimedia.org > > _______________________________________________ > > Wikimedia-l mailing list, guidelines at: https://meta.wikimedia.org/ > > wiki/Mailing_lists/Guidelines and https://meta.wikimedia.org/ > > wiki/Wikimedia-l > > New messages to: Wikimedia-l@lists.wikimedia.org > > Unsubscribe: https://lists.wikimedia.org/mailman/listinfo/wikimedia-l, > > mailto:wikimedia-l-request@lists.wikimedia.org?subject=unsubscribe > > > _______________________________________________ > Wikimedia-l mailing list, guidelines at: https://meta.wikimedia.org/ > wiki/Mailing_lists/Guidelines and https://meta.wikimedia.org/ > wiki/Wikimedia-l > New messages to: Wikimedia-l@lists.wikimedia.org > Unsubscribe: https://lists.wikimedia.org/mailman/listinfo/wikimedia-l, > mailto:wikimedia-l-request@lists.wikimedia.org?subject=unsubscribe >