GitHub issues apology for firing of Jewish worker

Image by Wikimedia Commons

By David Ian Klein January 19, 2021

The head of human resources at GitHub, a software developing host owned by Microsoft, has stepped down after a Jewish worker was fired from the company’s Washington D.C. office for warning colleagues that “Nazis are about” during the January 6 raid on the U.S. Capitol building.

Following the firing, the employee received an outpouring of support from colleagues who protested the termination.

“Our head of HR has taken personal accountability and resigned from GitHub,” Github’s COO Erica Brescia wrote in an official blog post on Sunday.

According to Brescia, the company conducted an internal investigation which “revealed significant errors of judgment and procedure.”

“In light of these findings, we immediately reversed the decision to separate with the employee and are in communication with his representative,” she wrote. “To the employee, we wish to say publicly: we sincerely apologize.”

In her post, Brescia also acknowledged the validity of the employee’s concern. “GitHub condemns the attack on the US Capitol on January 6th and any and all belief systems that are discriminatory,” the company stated. “Antisemitism, neo-Nazis, and white supremacy — along with all other forms of racism — are vile and have no place in our community.”

“Employees are free to express concerns about Nazis, antisemitism, white supremacy or any other form of discrimination or harassment in internal discussions,” they added.

David Ian Klein covers breaking news and international Jewish communities for the Forward. You can reach him at Klein@forward.com and on Twitter @davidianklein.

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