Published on May 31, 2020

Below is the message I shared with US IBMers earlier today.

All over the US, we have seen a number of deeply painful and heartbreaking events. Ahmaud Arbery, Breonna Taylor, and, more recently, George Floyd, amongst many others. Like you, I'm pained and appalled by their deaths. These events are tragic. They have shaken us to our core...and although they happened in the US, they have caught the world's attention. They bring to light the inequality, bias, prejudice and racism that people have dealt with for far too long and continue to deal with on a daily basis.

We cannot lose sight of the fact that racism is tearing our communities apart. One lesson we should all learn is that silent carriers help spread racism. This is why it falls on all of us to do away with the legacy of bias, prejudice and racism that has led to these unspeakable events. The tragedies that have occurred should strengthen our determination to do more. I want you to know: IBM will not condone racism of any kind, and we are committed to fighting discrimination in all its forms and wherever it exists.

There is going to be an ongoing dialogue on this topic. For our black IBMers, we understand how particularly difficult these times are for you. Please know that IBM is a safe place to work, and we are here to support you. There are no easy answers, but we must be willing to have these important, albeit difficult, conversations.

I ask all IBMers to join me in creating an even more inclusive culture at IBM. I encourage you to reach out to your IBM leaders if you need any support.

Thank you for all you are doing -- for each other, and for your help in building a better company and better society.

Arvind Krishna

Chief Executive Officer, IBM