| Hello friends, I just wanted provide a quick update to the charitable giving that Dusky Electronics has been doing and will be continuing to do. In 2020, I announced that 10% of all direct sales would be donated to organizations that materially support the idea that black lives matter and work to oppose white supremacy. That commitment is still firmly in place. In light of current events both at home and abroad, I feel like it's time to update that support to encompass human rights more generally and that broader focus will be reflected in my charitable giving strategy moving forward. At the heart of my thinking is support for the rights of all people to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. Supporting these basic human rights, requires that I condemn fascism and authoritarianism in general, and the policies and actions of the current republican administration in the United States specifically. Nothing that is happening right now is ok, or right, and conscience demands my vigorous opposition. This is the thinking that will guide my charitable giving moving forward. If you hate this, you can scroll to the bottom and click "unsubscribe". | | In 2020, I announced that 10% of all direct sales would be donated to organizations that materially support the idea that black lives matter and work to oppose white supremacy. You can find that announcement here. Since then I've been able to make donations to: - Fair Fight
- Minnesota Freedom Fund
- Movement For Black Lives
- NAACP Legal Defense Fund
- Southern Vision Alliance
- The Bail Project
- The Poor People's Campaign
- EmancipateNC
- Indivisible
- ACLU
Today, I am able to make a new donation to Immigrant's Rapid Response Fund, by the Women's Foundation of Minnesota. Right now people in Minnesota are on the front line in standing up to fascism and standing up for democratic values and universal human rights, so I think it's important to focus there right now. Over time, I expect to continue to give to the organizations above but I expect to also give to organizations focusing on immigration, the democratic rule of law, and whatever the next fight is moving forward. The rise of authoritarianism and right wing violence isn't confined to the United States, so there may also be funds to help the people of Ukraine or Palestine. For the time being, there is enough work to be done here in the United States, that it makes sense to me to focus my efforts here. I won't pretend it's a lot of money, because it isn't. For now, I'll put my drop in the American bucket. | | There is no ethical consumption under capitalism!I want to make very clear that if you share my concerns and want to help out, buying products from me is not that way to do that. Give money directly to organizations that are doing the important work of meeting the moment to fight for basic human rights. If you are able, volunteer and get involved yourself with your time, talent, and labor. I'm a little uncomfortable putting this information out there, because I don't want to give the impression that somehow buying a guitar pedal from me is sticking it to the man. I produce the products I sell in the same system of global capitalism as everyone else and it's all compromised at some level. I'm speaking up because I feel that it's important to be transparent both about where I stand and where some of your money might go to if you spend it with me. Don't buy my products to say "Fuck ICE"–just say "Fuck ICE". Do buy my products if you want a good pedal or amplifier, though. | | This isn't politics for me.I don't plan to be making these sorts of communications often. It is not my plan or desire to use my company as a pulpit or a soapbox or to use "wokeness" to market my products. As a human being, though, I do have a responsibility to other human beings that transcends any business consideration and I do feel that it's important to do what I can and encourage others to do the same. I have no intention of using my business as a platform for my politics, but I also don't consider anything I've said today to be political. In a free and democratic United States, a political discussion would be about how best to fund education, provide healthcare, or figure out what the hell we're going to do exactly about anthropic climate change. Whether or not to have a democracy, and whether or not everyone here should be granted their basic human and civil rights are not political questions, but moral ones. And whether you look to the religions of the world, or the words of the founders, or the Bill of Rights, the answers to these moral questions are always the same–human life has value above any other worldly concern and freedom is for everyone, not just an elite few. As always, thank you for your support and understanding. Chris Rossi
Owner, Dusky Electronics |
|
