Uber started trending worldwide on social media this weekend, but the company probably isn’t too thrilled about it.
#DeleteUber spread across the internet amid President Donald Trump’s 90-day ban on U.S. immigration by citizens of seven predominantly Muslim countries that has already seen backlash from the tech industry.
The hashtag picked up steam after Uber’s NYC Twitter account tweeted this while people were protesting the ban at the JFK airport, as two Iraqi men were detained despite having visas that would ordinarily allow them to enter the country.
Surge pricing has been turned off at #JFK Airport. This may result in longer wait times. Please be patient.
— Uber NYC (@Uber_NYC) January 29, 2017
This sparked some reaction on Twitter, given that a taxi advocacy group joined the protest and some taxi drivers temporarily halted service:
#deleteUber Here's the NY Taxi Workers Alliance Statement on the refugee ban. @Uber is still trying to go to JFK anyway pic.twitter.com/qQAkPm2r9s
— Eric Murphy (@EricRMurphy) January 29, 2017
congrats to @Uber_NYC on breaking a strike to profit off of refugees being consigned to Hell. eat shit and die https://t.co/19gbpIc9m9
— Dan CO'Sullivfefe (@Bro_Pair) January 29, 2017
Uber later followed up and said the tweet was “not meant to break strike.”
Last tweet not meant to break strike. Our CEO’s statement opposing travel ban and compensating those impacted: https://t.co/joWvPvux9J
— Uber NYC (@Uber_NYC) January 29, 2017
Uber CEO Travis Kalanick has taken criticism lately in regard to Trump. Along with other leaders like Tesla CEO Elon Musk and IBM CEO Ginni Rometty, Kalanick is on Trump’s Strategic and Policy Forum.
That caused some backlash with employees at Uber, and Kalanick responded by saying “we’ll partner with anyone in the world as long they’re about making transportation in cities better.”
In the letter to employees shared by Uber this weekend, Kalanick said he will talk to Trump about the immigration ban and support employees affected by the decision.
“While every government has their own immigration controls, allowing people from all around the world to come here and make America their home has largely been the U.S.’s policy since its founding,” he wrote. “That means this ban will impact many innocent people—an issue that I will raise this coming Friday when I go to Washington for President Trump’s first business advisory group meeting.”
Update: Uber posted an email Kalanick sent to drivers on Sunday afternoon as a follow-up to the post above. Uber will provide legal support for drivers and compensate them for lost earnings; the company is also creating a $3 million legal defense fund.
But damage has certainly already been done:
Reminder: @Uber CEO Travis Kalanick is a member of Trump's Strategic and Policy Forum. #GrabYourWallet #DeleteUber https://t.co/ggkZTF2YHG
— Shannon Coulter (@shannoncoulter) January 29, 2017
I've refused to use Uber since they bullied ATX. Working with Trump & refusing to strike against #MuslimBan was the last straw. #DeleteUber
— Matthew Chapman (@fawfulfan) January 29, 2017
Lyft, meanwhile, said it would donate $1 million to ACLU “to defend our constitution.” From co-founder Logan Green:
1/ Lyft has worked hard to create an inclusive, diverse and conscientious community where all our drivers and passengers feel welcome.
— logangreen (@logangreen) January 29, 2017
2/ Trump’s immigration ban is antithetical to both Lyft's and our nation's core values.
— logangreen (@logangreen) January 29, 2017
Be dubious and reject @lyft's cynical PR play here. Don't delete @Uber just to give your money to another labor exploiter. #DeleteUber
— Dan CO'Sullivfefe (@Bro_Pair) January 29, 2017
3/ We are donating $1,000,000 over the next four years to the ACLU to defend our constitution. https://t.co/0umGOlkhSx
— logangreen (@logangreen) January 29, 2017
Some people said they were ditching Uber and only using Lyft:
.@Lyft donated $1,000,000 to the @ACLU. Uber broke a Muslim solidarity strike. Download Lyft. Show solidarity with solidarity. #deleteuber
— Emanuel Zbeda (@therealezway) January 29, 2017
Use #lyft , they support GOOD things #deleteuber
— LaurenNY-7??? (@AaliyahNevaeh7) January 29, 2017
Several tech executives — including Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg and Google CEO Sundar Pichai — responded negatively to Trump’s move to ban those from Syria, Iraq, Iran, Sudan, Somalia, Yemen and Libya from entering the U.S. for 90 days.
The ruling by U.S. District Judge Ann Donnelly reportedly allows valid visa holders who have landed in the country to remain, impacting an estimated 100 to 200 people detained at U.S. airports.