While many companies have come out in support of Black lives in the wake of George Floyd's killing, Linden Lab's statement last Friday comes with some extra heft:
We stand in solidarity with Black Lives Matter, all victims of systemic oppression and violence, and with Black communities across the U.S., the globe, and the virtual world in condemning racism and any and all actions that promote division.
Our mission at Second Life has always been to help build a better world, and in support of Black Lives Matter, we will be donating $10,000 each to three charities that are active in helping to fight oppression and injustice including the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) and the Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC).
How can you help? This weekend, you can participate in the Stand for Justice fundraising effort dedicated to raising funds for Black Lives Matter, Black Visions Collective, Campaign Zero, the National Police Accountability Project, and a Split Bail Fund benefiting 38+ bail funds nationwide.
More here. Promoting the community-driven Stand for Justice fundraiser is also notable, because as many reader comments suggest, some Second Life users object to it. ("I am making a list of all the shops participating in this and will boycott each of them", one angry reader even vowed.)
However, this is not even the first time Linden Lab has officially made a political stand on a potentially controversial — to right wingers, at least — issue:
In 2017, for instance, Linden Lab condemned Trump anti-Muslim refugee policy, and even joined in an amicus brief against it.
Given that, and this most recent statement, maybe the real question is this: If you're against Black Lives Matter, maybe you're in the wrong world?
Wagner James Au / New World Notes 
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