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Apple boss Tim Cook has addressed his own workforce via an internal memo in response to the senseless murder of George Floyd.
The news page Bloomberg has obtained an internal memo written by Tim Cook and distributed to Apple employees. In it, Cook responds to the senseless murder of George Floyd and calls for employees to work "to create a better, fairer world for all." The Apple CEO also announced additional donations to groups working to address racial injustice and protect human rights.
The memo in full
Team,
Right now, there is a pain etched deep into the soul of our nation and the hearts of millions. To stand together, we must stand up for one another and recognize the fear, pain, and outrage rightly provoked by the senseless killing of George Floyd and a much longer history of racism.
That painful past is still present today—not just in the form of violence, but in the everyday experience of deep-rooted discrimination. We see it in our criminal justice system, in the disproportionate rates of disease in Black and brown communities, in inequalities, in community services, and in our children's education. Our laws may have changed, but in reality, their protections are still not universally applied.
We have seen progress since the America I grew up in, but it is equally true that communities of color continue to endure discrimination and trauma.
I have heard from so many of you that you are afraid - afraid in your communities, afraid in your daily lives, and, cruelest of all, afraid in your own skin. We cannot have a society worth celebrating unless we can guarantee freedom from fear to every person who gives their love, their work, and their life to this country.
Our mission at Apple has always been, and always will be, to develop technology that empowers people to change the world for the better. We have always drawn strength from our diversity, welcoming people from all walks of life into our stores around the world and striving to create an Apple that is inclusive of all.
But together, we must do more. Today, Apple is donating to a number of groups, including the Equal Justice Initiative, a nonprofit organization working to fight racial injustice, end mass incarceration, and protect the human rights of the most vulnerable people in American society. For the month of June, and in honor of the Juneteenth holiday, we will also match all employee donations two-for-one through Benevity.
To create change, we must re-evaluate our own views and actions in the face of a pain that is deeply felt but too often ignored. Issues of human dignity will not remain on the sidelines. To our colleagues in the Black community—we see you. You matter, your lives matter, and you are valued here at Apple.
To all of our colleagues who are hurting right now, know that you are not alone and that we have the resources to support you. It's more important than ever to talk to each other and find healing in our shared humanity. We also have free resources that can help, including our Employee Assistance Program and mental health resources, which you can learn about on the People website.
This is a moment when many people may desire nothing more than a return to normalcy, or to a status quo that is only comfortable if we avert our gaze from injustice. As hard as it may be to admit, this desire is itself a sign of privilege. The death of George Floyd is shocking and tragic proof that we must aim far higher than a "normal" future and build one that lives up to the highest ideals of equality and justice.
In the words of Martin Luther King, “Every society has its protectors of the status quo and its fraternities of the indifferent, notorious for sleeping through revolutions. Today, our survival depends on our ability to stay awake, to adapt to new ideas, to remain vigilant, and to rise to the challenge of change.”
With every breath we take, we must commit to being that change and creating a better, fairer world for all.
Tim
In the wake of the wave of protests, Apple had to close some US stores again shortly after their reopening to protect its own employees, as the ongoing unrest led to vandalism and looting. Some of these locations will remain closed even longer, as the damage is said to already be considerable. (Image: Apple)
