A lot of bad things have happened during the past few weeks. Yes we can argue whose fault it is or speculate cui bono, but such flame wars and quarrels will not help us, will not help free software. Such conflicts just undermine previous decades of effort and wonderful work that has been done.

We need a rollback. We have to recover the last known good state – which means the August, before the unfortunate events of September 2019. Richard Stallman should be re-elected (or his resignation should be refused) and FSF should continue its standard way.

If there is somebody who feels that s/he would be a better candidate for leader of the FSF, he/she should honestly present his/her program and plans, clearly laying out a vision for the FSF and stating his/her intention to run for director or president. And in a standard process, according to the rules, s/he might be elected, if s/he would be better than RMS. However, depose – or „encouraging“ the resignation of – a leader, prior to having any clear direction going forward, is clearly wrong and damaging to the organization.

FSF must stay strong, independent and sovereign. And must enhance its immunity to the pressures from the outside of the free software movement.

How can I help?

Spread the word, share this information with other developers and users of free software. Contact us in the mailing list (backtotheaugust@lists.globalcode.info) – we will add your name to the list of supporters. (please send us an e-mail with your name and optionally your description, message or link)

Supporters

The free software users, developers, bloggers, journalists, activists, artists and writers of the following list want to demonstrate their support to the figure and work of Mr. Richard M. Stallman and consider it necessary to continue the fight for the rights of free software from the purity of their ideas regarding software and privacy.

• František Kučera: software developer, GNU/Linux enthusiast, FSF member, long term free software supporter and author <Frantovo.cz>
• Pedro Francisco: author of blog in defense of free software that unconditionally supports Richard M. Stallman <maslinux.es>
• Wilson Bustos
• Iñigo Ovejero Ateka: metal industry worker. „Don't Lynch RMS, support free software!“
• Juan Pérez: IT director. „The FSF has done more for freedom and equality than many organizations that have in their name the defense of freedoms, the last movements of this organization are not the most transparent and full of freedom as it has implicit in its own creation. Keep the spirit with which it was created, if not, you will lose the essence, its creators and associates will no longer have the essence of the best movement created centuries ago. If the essence is lost, everything is lost. For freedom in software, defend freedom of choice.“
• Charlotte Woolley
• Jean Louis: <gnu.support/richard-stallman/…>
• Sergey Matveev: free software developer and supporter, russian cypherpunks community founder, libreplanet-discuss <cypherpunks.ru>
• Ali Miracle: „I want support you, have fun and be free“
• Quiliro Ordóñez: Free software user since 1999, Freedom activist and free software activist since 2005, member of Free Software Association of Ecuador since 2007, anarchist since 2009, member of the board of Free Software Foundation Latin America since 2010, vegetarian since 2014, member of the animal kingdom since birth.
• Scott Monahan: a user of GNU/Linux.
• Daniel Klier: software developer, GNU/Linux enthusiast, social entrepreneur: founder of a (future non-profit) company with the mission to built sustainable, digital projects with F/LOSS only. Having circular economy and convivialism in the mind, we will donate back surplus to F/LOSS developing. Spread knowledge, software and love!
• Jagadees.S: A user of GNU.
• Adrienne G. Thompson: GNU C-Graph inventor and maintainer - Rise Up for RMS and GNU!
• Gabriel Arcanhell: Because I am afraid that they try to step on my freedom and because what they do to Richard Matthew Stallman is unacceptable. All my support for free software and for Richard Matthew Stallman. Thank you very much to him and to all the people who gave me all this. thanks thanks!!!
• Fernando Arenas: nurse. „All my support for free software and for Richard Matthew Stallman.“
• Patricio Rodríguez: „I express my support for the management and philosophy of Mr. Richard Stallman regarding his direction of the FSF.“
• Angel Baena: 82 years. „He is a good man, honest and benefactor of humanity. All my support and encourage you to continue in the gap.“
• Miguel de Dios: free software developer. „un desarrollador de varios proyectos software libre y colaboró en muchos otros. Y quiero dar mi apoyo Richard M. Stallman.“
• Javier Obregón: integrador de la distribución EterTICs GNU/Linux, militante y activista del del software libre. Mi agradecimiento y respaldo a RMS.
• Miguel A. Alvarez: „Full support. I am a chemical engineer.“
• Juan Fernando Gutiérrez Martín: „Quiero que el software siga siendo libre y colaborativo, No a los cambios de las licencias. BACK TO THE AUGUST status.“
• Luis Sandoval (luysess): Agronomist. „I'm a free software enthusiast. Richard M. Stallman is the soul of Free Software. A soulless being is but a wandering corpse. Richard must re-chair the FSF.“
• Alex Rodríguez: Teacher. „I've followed Stallman since we were young and I share his struggle.“
• Óscar Díaz: blogger
• A. Gabriel P. Caselles: „Im from Spain and I want to show my support for Richard Matthew Stallman against the actual witch hunt that he is suffering.“
• Marcel Ventosa: …

Authors

This initiative was started by:

• František Kučera: software developer, GNU/Linux enthusiast, FSF, EFF and FSFE member, long term free software supporter <Frantovo.cz>
• Pedro Francisco: author of a blog in defense of free software that unconditionally supports Richard M. Stallman <maslinux.es>

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