Dems call out Oracle for lack of diversity on its board

A group of House Democrats sent a letter to Oracle CEO Larry Ellison on Friday criticizing the company for a lack of African Americans and Asian Americans on the company’s board of directors.

The letter was signed by House Tech Accountability Caucus Chairwoman Robin Kelly (Ill.), Congressional Tri-Caucus leaders Julian Castro (Texas), Judy Chu (Calif.) and Karen Bass (Calif.), and Congressional Black Caucus Diversity Taskforce leaders GK Butterfield (N.C.) and Barbara Lee (Calif.).

“The fact that African Americans make up 13% and Asian Americans make up 5.6% of the U.S. population but 0% of Oracle’s board and leadership is inexcusable,” the members wrote. 

The letter follows a January letter to Oracle in which members voiced concern over a Labor Department claim that Oracle “systemically discriminated against women and individuals of color,” according to Friday’s letter. Oracle responded in February by refuting the claims.

Friday’s letter said that Oracle has one Latin American individual on its board and one unfilled board position.

Oracle declined a request for comment from The Hill.

“As a company that has expressed a commitment to diversity and rejected claims of intentional discrimination, you should recognize the optics of Oracle working doggedly to sell software and technology systems to businesses and congressional districts, historically black colleagues and universities and minority serving institutions, and communities of color — but not work to remedy the lack of diversity on your board,” the members wrote.

They requested a response from Oracle regarding their diversity concerns and said that an executive level briefing would be the best way to discuss the matter.