Medium, the online publishing platform, has announced a temporary pause in its workday as it allows employees to take Friday off to participate in a nationwide general strike protesting U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).

The move, approved by CEO Tony Stubblebine, comes amid growing unrest over recent ICE raids across several U.S. cities, which activists say have resulted in civilian deaths and heightened fear within immigrant communities.

According to a message shared internally on Slack, Stubblebine told staff they were free to engage with the strike in whatever way felt appropriate to them. Employees could take the entire day off, work partially, or align their work with the goals of the protest.

He emphasized that the company was not mandating political participation, stressing that Medium respects individual choice and does not dictate employees’ political views.

The general strike, organized by grassroots activists, is urging Americans to halt work, school, and shopping as part of a broader call to defund ICE.
The protest follows reports of intensified enforcement actions, including an incident earlier this month in Minneapolis where multiple people, among them two U.S. citizens, were reportedly killed during federal operations.

While allowing staff to step away, Medium said it would coordinate internally to maintain business continuity, recognizing its role as a platform for news, commentary, and public discourse.

The decision places Medium among a smaller group of tech companies whose leaders have openly criticized ICE, even as many major technology firms and executives have been accused of aligning themselves with the Trump administration in recent weeks.

In his message, Stubblebine underscored Medium’s broader values, stating that the company has a responsibility to clearly articulate its stance at a time when other tech organizations are financially supporting political campaigns.

He reaffirmed Medium’s commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion, and said the platform’s mission is to elevate truth and diverse voices rather than promote hate or racism, adding that civic engagement ultimately supports both the company’s mission and the health of the country.

Source: Techcrunch