UPDATE: Please read this document created by the lovely Lee! https://docs.google.com/document/d/158pGb4vQ2RKpaBsIL2SDoHZI5buL0t7kCtfjKe2MPfw/edit

The WoX community is an online series of text-based roleplay sites meant to provide users with a safe space to escape away from the real world, and into their favourite fandoms. Recently, however, WoX has failed to show up for marginalized users- especially people of colour.  

MUGWUMPs and other WoX admins have failed to act appropriately to shut down sites, topics or ideas that appropriate culture and carry racist undertones. They have repeatedly labeled users as racist themselves for sharing concerns about other members of WoX staff; implied that POC wanting proper representation of their cultures is unreasonable, racist towards white people, and 'gatekeeping'; removed users from their jobs on site and banned them from sites as a whole due to those users supposedly being 'racist to white people,' and told POC that they are 'attacking' others for calling their actions or statements racist. When POC are asked for evidence of what they have said that was racist or harmful, they were further threatened with more firings/bannings, told that they 'knew' what they had done, or downright ignored. Users concerned about admin behaviour (including sharing triggering content in public servers, being rude to users, making racist and transphobic statements, and saying slurs) were fired and/or banned for bringing their concerns to MUGWUMP attention, and while that user is no longer a member of admin, the users who spoke up are still having their concerns about WoX admin's negligence dismissed. 

POC users on WoX sites repeatedly have gone to site leaders and MUGWUMPs with concerns, suggestions, and offers to help reduce the discrimination across sites, and have, as mentioned, been dismissed over and over again. Site leaders have gone as far to tell them that THEY are being racist towards white people for saying that they want proper POC representation on sites. When a white user has gone to a MUGWUMP about a concern with racism, their response has been vastly different than when a POC has gone to a MUGWUMP and said that they were a POC. POC have repeatedly been told that they are overreacting and need to accept MUGWUMP/admin decisions, even when those decisions are perpetuating harm. The comfort of the users who are being called out is placed as more of a priority than 

The WoX admin team is primarily white, and as far as we are aware, the team of MUGWUMPs are all white. As such, it is not their place to label POC as overly aggressive, claim they are taking an issue out of context, or decide what is and isn't racism and/or what is and isn't an appropriate response to racism. 

We are angry and hurt by the continued dismissal of our concerns by WoX MUGWUMPs and no longer feel respected on these sites. 

We are calling upon WoX admins to do three things things-

• i. If desired by those users, reinstate the jobs and site access of those who were fired for speaking up about issues, or provide them with proof that their actions were inappropriate. Remove warnings from those who were warned for raising issues to admins. Issue an apology to those users for their unjust banning and firings. Apologize for the harm caused by refusing to hold other users accountable for their discrimination. 
• ii. Implement a clear, fair and unbiased system for users to report their concerns about issues with other users' behaviour, without fear of repercussions due to sharing concerns. Enforce policies that ensure any complaints are properly investigated and taken seriously. Train management on how to handle related conflicts, and ensure that POC are not treated as bullies or as though they are attacking admins for sharing concerns. Appoint a POC user to admin to handle these complaints and be involved in finding their solutions, to ensure that racism is dealt with in a way that is appropriate and not dismissive.
• iii. Amend the rules of all WoX sites to include clearly defined anti-racism policies. Include rules about the use of slurs and racial microaggressions, cultural appropriation, and ethnicity bending/the appropriate use of POC faceclaims and names. Clearly state that racism on WoX sites will NOT be tolerated in any form. Consult POC on WoX to ensure that these rules represent their needs and protect their culture, and appoint POC to admin teams to handle issues of appropriation and to advise users on how to properly represent their culture. 

It is not enough to just not be racist- you must be actively anti-racist to avoid becoming part of a problem. We, as concerned members of the WoX community, call upon WoX users collectively to show MUGWUMPs that we will not stand for the discrimination within the community that is supposed to be a safe space for everyone.

POC on these sites are asking to be heard, acknowledged and respected. 

Note: please sign the petition with your WoX character name or an online alias.