Rebellious Umbrellas: Hootsuite Out of ICE

Hootsuite Headquarters
111 East 5th St.

Friday, January 30th
3 ~ 5 pm

We convened outside the Hootsuite offices as part of a broader day of coordinated resistance. Following the action, several of the same groups, including Democracy Rising, the BC Greens, and Indivisible, turned their attention to Jim Pattison Developments to urge Mr. Pattison to decline the sale of a Virginia property to ICE.

In the days that followed, sustained public pressure from these groups proved effective. What began as protest culminated in confirmation that the sale would not proceed. This was a reminder that coordinated, values-driven advocacy can still move even the most entrenched corporate actors.

Together we lobbied Hootsuite from the street on a torrential winter afternoon. Northing like a stout rain to stiffen the spine. HS sells its social media management and metrics services to I.C.E. and the DHS. It’s becoming very dangerous for Canadian corporations to be entangled with the rapid nazification of the United States. 

We were chuffed about the major turnout. Estimates were around 5-600 people at its peak, though I think it was closer to 10,000. It was a wonderful beginning to a longer campaign. 

Here are some photos  John Dowler, one of our organizers, took during the festivities. It would be great if you use them in social media to help the movement. You can click once to view them, right-click to download.