We Need to Hear More Than Platitudes From Charles Koch

December 1, 2020 | Read Time: 2 minutes

I read the recent article in the Chronicle of Philanthropy on Charles Koch and his new book hoping to hear something new. After all, Koch has been discussing his supposed change of heart as he makes the rounds promoting the book. Unfortunately, he has failed to explain what his new perspective entails beyond platitudes. He shares stories of those “on the bottom” as inspiration but neglects to acknowledge that many of us are fighting against the very obstacles created by Koch money.

Instead of words with no weight behind them, I want to know what actions Koch will take to make up for the irreparable damage caused by the millions he has funneled into campus centers that produce climate misinformation or to organizations that use faulty science to justify reopening businesses and schools in the face of worsening Covid-19 rates.

As head of Koch Industries for more than 50 years, Charles Koch has profited from policies that have supported and benefited corporate interests while harming those most at risk, particularly communities of color. Koch and the programs, policies, and organizers backed by his financial investments have certainly worked hard over the last half century to make it even tougher for folks at “the bottom” to build a more just and equitable world. Will philanthropy now hold him accountable or will it remain complicit in its silence as Koch’s investment portfolio wreaks havoc on frontline communities and organizers?

Koch’s book, and its accompanying public relations strategy, insinuates that as a billionaire surrounded by everyday people, he is not out of touch with how the other half lives. Koch wants people to believe that he is no longer causing harm even as he continues to do just that. Most recently, through the Americans for Prosperity Action super PAC, he spent nearly half a million dollars on the Georgia Senate run-off race, supporting candidates whose policies fuel ongoing climate disaster, spread gross misinformation about the 2020 election, and disrupt progressive social and economic agendas that promote inclusive democracy and are supported by most Americans.

In response, we at UnKoch My Campus, along with 20 other organizations, have sent an open letter to Charles Koch reminding him of his past (and present) misdeeds and calling on him to explain just how he has changed. We want to know what specific actions he will take to right the wrongs he has caused. Clearly the media has provided him with a platform, so we are eagerly awaiting his response.