What am I talking about?
When I spoke out about Zcash Media on Twitter, echoing the opinions of many in the community, the backlash and the attempts to silence opposing voices from you and your ex-husband, the “freedom maximalist” Zooko Wilcox, were quite extreme. Here’s a very brief rundown of the events that unfolded following my public criticism of Zcash Media:
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After my tweet criticizing ZM, you, Amber sent me a message on Signal. What I didn’t know at the time is that you were also in talks with Zooko behind the scenes. Please let me know if you want me to share screenshots, but here’s a part of your message: “I am going to say this privately because I understand that people sometimes get emotional. … I think you should take a step back and think about the bridges you’re burning here…” Of course, when you didn’t like my private response back to you (“I appreciate you reaching out. We are not going to agree on this subject…”), you then posted that “private” message on twitter, minus any veiled threats.
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Your Twitter post was subsequently shared by Zooko (check retweets), amplifying the intimidation.
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Behind the scenes, there was a concerted effort to pressure me, and I received multiple DMs exerting that pressure in various forms. Notably, at least three Wilcoxes took part, including you Amber. What’s most troubling is Zooko went as far as to personally contact Josh, the CEO of the company I work for, issuing veiled threats towards Josh and the ECC, attempting to influence my professional standing. And for what?
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There was more happening, but I think this covers the highlights.
Some of the most involved Zcash community members have long held their opinions of ZCG’s performance back, largely due to fear of retaliation—concerns that my experience only serves to validate. While confidence in ZCG’s ability to allocate funds well and support community initiatives is low, active community members are not able to speak out publicly. They feel that they have no choice but to accept ZCG members’ decisions in silence as the risk of losing their source of income is high. Your behavior, Amber, showed that those fears are not baseless. It appears there’s a significant problem with power being misused to quash dissent and control narrative within the community. Criticism of ZCG decisions is met with hidden efforts to suppress and discredit the critic.
You and Zooko tried to cancel me for speaking out against a bad grant that you both supported and protected. The ironic focus on my tone rather than the substance of my criticisms or your own unethical collusion speaks volumes about your priorities as a leader.
An ethical leader would step down. Yet, you are not only unaware of how problematic your collusion and pressure were, but are also seeking re-election. This cycle of unethical behavior and retaliation must be addressed for the health and future of the Zcash community. We need leaders who foster transparency and accountability, not those who wield their power to stifle constructive critique in the shadows. You do not deserve community’s trust.