Medium gives employees Friday off to participate in national strike protesting ICE

While hustle culture often dominates the tech industry in the age of AI, the publishing platform Medium will pause work on Friday. Medium CEO Tony Stubblebine has permitted employees to take the day off to participate in a nationwide general strike protesting U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).

Organisers of the strike are for “no work, no school, and no shopping” as part of a broader effort to push for the defunding of ICE. The action comes amid intensified immigration raids in several U.S. cities, which activists say have resulted in multiple deaths, including two U.S. citizens earlier this month in Minneapolis.

In a Slack message shared with Medium staff, Stubblebine told employees they are free to participate in the strike in whatever way feels right to them. “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,” he wrote in a general announcements channel.

Stubblebine emphasised that Medium is not a business of dictating people’s politics,” making it clear that participation in the strike is a personal choice rather than a company mandate.

As a platform ccentredon publishing news, commentary, and analysis across politics, culture, and society, Medium still plans to maintain operations during the day. Stubblebine said the company will coordinate internally to ensure “business continuity” on Friday while allowing employees the flexibility to step away and protest if they choose.

The move comes at a time when reactions within the tech industry to ICE and federal immigration enforcement have been sharply divided. Some technology leaders, including Jeff Dean, have publicly criticised ICE. At the same time, large technology companies and their executives have recently sought closer ties with the Trump administration.

Several executives — including Tim Cook — faced backlash for attending a screening of an Amazon MGM Studios–produced documentary about Melania Trump on the same day that federal border agents fatally shot ICU nurse Alex Pretti in Minneapolis.

Among rank-and-file tech workers, opposition to immigration enforcement agencies has been growing louder. Hundreds of employees across the industry have called for ICE and Customs and Border Protection to leave U.S. cities, a sentiment reflected in an open letter signed by more than 500 tech workers.

Stubblebine’s message suggested he shares that perspective. He wrote that Medium has a responsibility to “make its stance clear,” particularly at a time when “many other tech orgs are donating to the Trump campaign.” He also reiterated that Medium’s platform is meant to elevate truth and diverse voices, not hate or racism.

The message further reaffirmed Medium’s support for DEI initiatives — diversity, equity, and inclusion policies that the Trump administration has sought to dismantle through executive orders, cuts to federal DEI roles, curriculum changes, and legal challenges.

“Our business thrives when the country thrives,” Stubblebine wrote, adding that being visible and engaged during moments like this aligns with Medium’s broader mission.