Celebrities Join The #DeleteUber Movement After Trump’s Muslim Ban

Following protests at airports across the U.S. this past weekend following President Donald Trump’s travel ban, which is being referred to as a Muslim ban, Uber users become upset after alleging that the ride-sharing service decided to go against a taxi ban at New York City’s John F. Kennedy International Airport.

After the New York Taxi Workers Alliance called for a one-hour work stoppage in solidarity with the protests on Saturday night, the Uber New York City Twitter account announced it would turn off its surge pricing at JFK Airport.

Following the announcement, Twitter user @Bro_Pair started the #deleteUBER hashtag. “Congrats to @Uber_NYC on breaking a strike to profit off of refugees being consigned to hell,” he tweeted. The user next tweet kicked off a campaign which has been growing since Saturday.

“Don’t like @Uber’s exploitative anti-labor policies and Trump collaboration, now profiting of xenophobia? #delteUBER.” While @Bro_Pai, whose real name is Dan O’Sullivan, doesn’t take credit for inventing the boycott, the movement has since been adopted by a number of celebrities.

A tweet from George Takei praising Uber rival Lyft for donating $1 million to the ACLU (American Civil Liberties Union) got 18,000 retweets, while actor and activist Jesse Williams tweeted a photo of him deleting the Uber app off of his iPhone. “Went ahead and did that but don’t forget to support the Taxi Workers’ Alliance as well,” Williams wrote.

“Hidden Figures” stars Janelle Monae and Taraji P. Henson also joined the movement with Monae tweeting, “Cancelling #Uber like… #bye #nomuslimban #teamfreeomoverfear,” and Henson tweeting, “Deleting @Uber right now!!!”

Following the news of Twitter trend, Uber CEO Travis Kalanick announced he would establish a $3 million legal defense fund for drivers affected by the ban, which temporarily prohibits citizens of several Muslim-majority countries entering the U.S. In an e-mail sent to Uber drivers, Kalanick wrote, “At Uber we’ve always believed in standing up for what’s right. Today we need your help supporting drivers who may be impacted by the President’s unjust immigration ban.”

According to Kalanick, Uber’s plan to help drivers includes: Providing 24/7 legal support, compensation for drivers who lost their earnings, urging the government to reinstate the right of U.S. residents to travel and creating a $3 million legal defense fund to help drivers with immigration and translation services.