Hey there, folks! I just got word that Medium’s CEO Tony Stubblebine has given his team the green light to take a day off tomorrow to participate in the national general strike protesting U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). I know, it’s not every day you get a free pass to skip work and take a stand, but this one feels like a pretty cool opportunity.
So, what’s the deal with the strike? It’s being called by activists, and the idea is to have a day with “no work, no school, and no shopping” to defund ICE, which has been involved in some pretty devastating raids in U.S. cities lately. Just this month, two U.S. residents in Minneapolis lost their lives due to ICE actions. That’s crazy stuff, and I gotta give it up to Medium for supporting their staff in taking a stand.
According to a Slack message shared with Medium workers, Stubblebine was clear that staff are free to participate however they want. Whether it’s a full day off, working on a partial day, or focusing on tasks that align with the strike’s objectives, it’s up to each individual employee. He emphasized that Medium isn’t in the business of dictating people’s politics, and this is a personal choice, not an organizational mandate.
As a publishing platform that gives people a platform to share their thoughts and opinions on politics and current events, Medium wants to make sure their staff can participate in the strike without worrying about work piling up. So, the company will be coordinating with teams to ensure business continuity on Friday.
I know some of you might be thinking, “Wait, isn’t this a pretty big deal?” And you’re right, it is! This isn’t the first time tech leaders have spoken out against ICE. Google DeepMind’s chief scientist, Jeff Dean, has been vocal in his opposition, but many big tech companies have been trying to curry favor with the Trump administration. Some high-profile executives, including Apple’s Tim Cook, have been criticized for attending events that appear to support ICE.
It’s refreshing to see an organization like Medium taking a stand and giving their staff the freedom to participate in the strike. As Stubblebine put it, “Our business thrives when the nation thrives, and so being out there representing is good for our mission.” Alright, I’ll stop quoting him now, you get the idea.
Anyway, kudos to Medium for supporting their staff and taking a stand against ICE. Hopefully, more companies will follow suit.
