George Flyod Death: Alexis Ohanian, Reddit co-founder resigns from board, to serve black community

Reddit co-founder Alexis Ohanian has announced his resignation from the company board and has asked to be replaced by a black candidate. Ohanian announced his decision over a video and through a series of posts on social media. Ohanian, who is married to tennis star Serena Williams, said that a resignation can be seen as an “act of leadership" from people in power and urged protestors to not stop fighting for their cause. Ohanian further said that he would be donating $1m (£800,000) to Know Your Rights Camp, which is a non-profit started by former NFL quarterback Colin Kaepernick. 

Ohanian founded Reddit, the social media website, 15 years ago with his college roommates Aaron Swartz and Steve Huffman. The entrepreneur wrote on his official website that he has taken the decision to quit the Reddit Board chiefly to curb racial hate and to "serve the black community." "I have urged them to fill my seat with a black candidate, and 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 Colin Kaepernick’s Know Your Rights Camp", he wrote.

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