Google CEO Sundar Pichai has cancelled a Thursday all-hands meeting originally organized to discuss diversity issues in the aftermath of an "anti-diversity manifesto" that recently went viral within Google and the firing of James Damore, the Google employee who wrote the document.
According to Recode, which first reported the news, Google employees expressed concern about online harassment after their questions for Pichai and names appeared on right-wing sites in advance of the scheduled meeting.
A Google spokesperson told BuzzFeed News, "We’ll find a better way to help our employees connect and discuss these important issues further.”
Here is the full text of Pichai's memo to employees, which Google provided to BuzzFeed News:
"Dear Googlers,
"TL;DR Sorry for the late notice but we are going to cancel today’s Town Hall.
"We had hoped to have a frank, open discussion today as we always do to bring us together and move forward. But our Dory questions appeared externally this afternoon, and on some websites Googlers are now being named personally. Googlers are writing in, concerned about their safety and worried they may be “outed” publicly for asking a question in the Town Hall.
"In recognition of Googlers’ concerns, we need to step back and create a better set of conditions for us to have the discussion. So in the coming days we will find several forums to gather and engage with Googlers, where people can feel comfortable to speak freely. We’ll share details soon.
"Over the past two days, I have had the chance to meet with so many people here, and I have read each of your emails carefully. The vast majority of you are very supportive of our decision. A smaller percentage of you wish we would do more. And some are worried that you cannot speak out at work freely. All of your voices and opinions matter...and I want to hear them.
"In the meantime, let’s not forget what unites us as a company — our desire to build great products for everyone that make a big difference in their lives. I have been in a few product discussions today and felt energized by the important things we are working on. We can, and will continue, to come together to do the very best for the people we serve.
"Stay tuned."
4chan's /pol/ message board, known for doxxing people who don't agree with its extremist views, tweeted the names and Twitter handles of Google employees to be doxxed:
Here's a collection of some of Google's most vocal employees. All of their insanity starts making sense when you se… https://t.co/ot3FNlxW2o
Milo Yiannopoulos did the same:
And the right-wing site Vox Populi published the names and job titles of people allegedly arguing for Damore to be fired.
James Damore appeared to be staging a small protest nearby Google headquarters, per his Twitter account, @Fired4Truth.
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