Upcomer has obtained exclusive audio of a number of speeches from today’s Riot walkout.





In these three speeches, Rioters discuss a number of charged topics, including accountability for senior staff, employee safety, and the morality of forced arbitration as a whole. The speakers of these speeches will remain anonymous in this article, as Upcomer did not ascertain their consent to be displayed to the general public in this manner. Speeches recorded by Kevin Hitt; article written by Michael Hassall.





Photo via Upcomer





In the first, a speaker delivers an impassioned response to Riot Games’ refusal to change their policy on arbitration for ongoing cases.





“...So whether you are here to show your support, express your dissent, or simply discuss so that you can better understand the situation, this is a hard and scary thing to be a part of. So thank you. Thank you all for your courage here today.





To the senior leadership, I ask you, why force arbitration? You have said that maintaining private arbitration for current Rioters is the best option. But for these women who filed publicly-available lawsuits, and (unintelligible) explicitly demands a trial by jury, page 25.





For who is this the best action? For the plaintiffs, who have publicly shared their stories of systemic harassment and career suppression? Or the alleged perpetrators of misconduct, who fear for the consequences they may face?





I ask you this because the perception among the people that work so hard for you and for our players every day is that you are not on our side. And I want us to be on the same side.





So I ask you again, why force arbitration? The arbitration agreement contains a class action waiver clause. Plaintiffs forced into arbitration must waive their right to participate in a class action suit, in which the scale of, and impact to Riot, would be comparably massive.





In Unplugged, [Nicolo Laurent] asserted that by forcing arbitration, you or your buddies, the average Rioters, would be susceptible to frivolous lawsuits. This reads to me like classic fear-mongering.





Is it not the case that people can be sued regardless of which process the lawsuits go through? Do not impose your fear on me.





What we want is a timely end to the systemic silencing of employees, and the promise of a fair trial for the current plaintiffs.





We are not dissident for the sake of dissidence. We are dissident for the sake of justice. For the sake of Riot living up to its values, and for the sake of making Riot the great place we all want it to be.





We are not here because we hate Riot. We are here because we believe in the values that Riot has proclaimed. Rioters are Riot. We are Riot. The select few members of senior leadership alone do not comprise Riot. And we believe that it’s our duty, as Riot, to hold these select few members of senior leadership accountable when the system they designed has failed the company they promised to protect.





Thank you.”





Photo via Riot Games





In a second speech, a Rioter discusses the company’s culture, explaining that while things have begun to change, it isn’t enough. Throughout, they assert that Riot can’t deliver great things to players if the organization’s internal culture isn’t fixed. They end by delivering an emotional call to action to their colleagues.





“If you asked me what I was going to be doing with my time, a week and three days ago, it was going to be obsessing over Game of Thrones. I won’t spoil it.





But that was the not case. I did not think that I would be spending every waking morning before work, every second after work, and every spare second of the weekends, desperate, and determined, with a group of people to offer Rioters a platform and a voice.

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We want Rioters to present a unified front. I spent every day listening to people who were scared. There’s a gap here between our sense of safety and leadership's perception of those numbers.





That’s why this is important. That’s why we're out here in a parking lot together! Because we show up for each other. We put Rioters before players because players cannot get great things if even one of us becomes collateral damage of a culture that’s slow to reform.





I am here for you, Shanelle and Jessica, I am here for any current Rioter who will be forced into arbitration. I don’t think it’s right that you don’t have a right to a trial and a jury.





Leaders have been listening for 10 months. Thank you. Thanks. We’re trying to make it even easier to be heard now.





[Marc Merrill] and [Brandon Beck] took responsibility for creating a culture where Rioters were unsafe and mistreated. We were promised change. I can’t come to terms with my coworkers suffering from that culture, or with responsibility being taken, being forced into arbitration, and being forced into anymore figurative dark corners or rooms.





We have seen leadership trying to do the right thing for the people who work here. And they have already committed to change things for people who do not work here yet. Today, I expect Riot to move mountains for us, as Rioters have moved mountains for players, as Rioters have given players the coral reef, Rioters have given players the Make-A-Wish Foundation.





I’m sorry guys, I’m really emotional over here, but...We care so much about our players. We work overtime. We work so hard to make Riot great. It’s not even a question. It’s not even a question of whether I would use my free time to make a player’s game more fun. To have more people enjoy League, or to have our champions be more resonating [sic], it’s not even a question. I would give up anything, anytime.





But now I want Riot to take care of us, how we take care of players. I think that we can be better.





We cannot thrive if any of us is scared. Imagine a Riot where everyone felt safe and included. If you already feel that way, take a second, look around, and think about who might not, and why?





And most of all, everyone, share your stories with each other. They are real. They are valid. Staying knowledgeable about our ecosystem is exactly what helps us to defend it, like we are doing right now.





We can be a better Riot. Riot fell a little behind, I’m not gonna lie. But the good news is that we’re Rioters, and we fucking carry hard.





Don’t worry Riot, we’ll carry you.”





Photo via Riot Games





In this third speech, a new speaker begins with his initial impressions of Riot as a new employee. He calls out leadership for their defense of arbitration and concludes by demanding accountability.





“...most of all, I heard that we would be a team founded on honesty, integrity, and accountability. I could not sign that offer letter fast enough.





In almost five years here, I’ve heard these words repeated again and again. Constant calls for Rioters to hold one another accountable. I’ve heard it from every one of my managers. I’ve heard it from all the leaders throughout the company. I’ve heard it from those named in the lawsuit articles. ‘Hold me accountable.’ That’s what they said.





We are here today to do just that. [They’ve explained] the rationale behind forced arbitration, and suggested a lot of reasons why it might be a good thing. They’ve suggested the cost that Riot and Rioters might otherwise incur. Things like years of litigation, financial burden, lack of closure. So it seems to me that the question of forced arbitration is ultimately a question of the cost of accountability.





And I want to say, that accountability does not have a time limit. Accountability does not have a monetary cap. Accountability is not determined by acceptable risk. It is not negotiated based on personal cost. It is not applicable, just when convenient, or advisable.

Accountability is simple. It’s doing what’s right. It’s accepting the consequences of your actions. Accountability is supporting the Rioters who have kept their promise, and not protecting the ones who have broken it.”





In each speech, the message is clear: These employees are not happy with Riot’s current stance on arbitration. It remains to be seen if this walkout will force Riot’s hand, or if the company will continue to stand its ground.