Justice

Twitter is Reacting Over Uber CEO's Latest Move

February 2nd 2017

Uber CEO Travis Kalanick is leaving his position on President Donald Trump's advisory committee, Uber confirmed to ATTN: on Thursday. Kalanick reportedly called Trump, discussed the immigration executive order and "let him know know that [he] would not be able to participate on his economic council," according to an email sent to Uber employees.

Uber CEO Travis KalanickOFFICIAL LEWEB PHOTOS - flickr.com

#DeleteUber

Backlash against the rideshare app came to a head on Saturday, January 28, following Trump's executive order, which halted visas from seven majority-Muslim countries for 90 days, stopped incoming Syrian refugees indefinitely, and suspended all refugee resettlements for 120 days.

Following the order, New York City taxi cabs protested the ban by stopping all pick-ups to and from JFK airport in a show of solidarity for the refugees being detained there.

Uber, however, did not join the NYC taxi drivers in the strike, which angered many people. Compounded with users frustration over Kalanick's participation on Trump's advisory board, some app users decided to delete their Uber accounts in response. #DeleteUber soon trended on Twitter.

"Joining the group was not meant to be an endorsement of the President or his agenda but unfortunately it has been misinterpreted to be exactly that."

In the email to Uber employees, Kalanick stated he was leaving his position on the council. Here is that email, via Recode:

"Dear Team,

"Earlier today I spoke briefly with the President about the immigration executive order and its issues for our community. I also let him know that I would not be able to participate on his economic council. Joining the group was not meant to be an endorsement of the President or his agenda but unfortunately it has been misinterpreted to be exactly that.

"I spent a lot of time thinking about this and mapping it to our values. There are a couple that are particularly relevant:

"Inside Out - The implicit assumption that Uber (or I) was somehow endorsing the Administration’s agenda has created a perception-reality gap between who people think we are, and who we actually are.

"Just Change - We must believe that the actions we take ultimately move the ball forward. There are many ways we will continue to advocate for just change on immigration but staying on the council was going to get in the way of that. The executive order is hurting many people in communities all across America. Families are being separated, people are stranded overseas and there’s a growing fear the U.S. is no longer a place that welcomes immigrants.

"Immigration and openness to refugees is an important part of our country’s success and quite honestly to Uber’s. I am incredibly proud to work directly with people like Thuan and Emil, both of whom were refugees who came here to build a better life for themselves. I know it has been a tough week for many of you and your families, as well as many thousands of drivers whose stories are heartfelt and heart-wrenching.

"Please know, your questions and stories on Tuesday, along with what I heard from drivers, have kept me resilient and reminded me of one of our most essential cultural values, Be Yourself. We will fight for the rights of immigrants in our communities so that each of us can be who we are with optimism and hope for the future.

"Travis"

Twitter reacted to the news immediately.

Many Twitter users are crediting the boycott for Kalanick's leave.

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