Medium allows employees to join national strike against ICE

Tony Stubblebine, the CEO of publishing platform Medium, is permitting employees to take Friday off to participate in a nationwide general strike against U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). In a Slack message shared with Medium staff, Stubblebine clarified that the company is not mandating participation in the strike, framing it as an individual choice rather than a corporate directive. “Whether or not you want to fully take the day away from work, or do a partial work day, or orient your work towards something that feels aligned to the goals of the strike, that is up to you,” Stubblebine wrote. To accommodate employees who choose to participate, the company will coordinate internally to ensure business continuity on Friday.

The strike, organized by activists calling for “no work, no school, and no shopping” to defund ICE, comes amid intense public scrutiny of the agency. ICE has escalated raids in U.S. cities, killing several people, including two U.S. citizens earlier this month in Minneapolis. Tensions escalated further after federal border control agents shot and killed ICU nurse Alex Pretti in Minneapolis.

Medium’s decision aligns with a broader wave of political activism among rank-and-file tech workers. More than 500 tech industry employees signed an open letter demanding that ICE and Customs and Border Protection (CBP) get out of U.S. cities. This collective action stands in contrast to the actions of several high-profile tech executives who have recently sought to build ties with the Trump administration. For instance, some executives, including Apple CEO Tim Cook, faced criticism for attending a screening of the Amazon MGM Studios-produced “Melania” documentary on the day federal border control agents shot and killed ICU nurse Alex Pretti in Minneapolis. Google DeepMind chief scientist Jeff Dean has also been among the tech leaders outspoken against ICE.

Stubblebine stated that Medium has a responsibility to make its stance clear, particularly as other tech organizations donate to the Trump campaign. He noted that Medium’s platform exists to elevate truth and diverse voices, rather than hate speech or racism. Stubblebine also reiterated Medium’s support for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) policies, which have faced targeting and dismantling efforts from the Trump administration. He concluded that Medium’s business thrives when the country thrives, and that active representation supports the company’s core mission.

Why it matters

Medium’s policy highlights the growing tension between tech company labor policies and political activism, specifically regarding ICE and DEI, as other tech firms navigate relationships with the Trump administration.