The “Uber Everywhere” rapper has joined the #DeleteUber boycott in reaction to the ride sharing company sending drivers to John F. Kennedy airport amid protests over President Donald Trump’s Muslim ban.
The Atlanta rapper tweeted Sunday (Jan. 29), that he’s deleting Uber in favor of Lyft.
2017: @lyft everywhere
— TOKYO ? (@madeintyo) January 29, 2017
The #DeleteUber backlash picked up after Uber tweeted that it was suspending surge prices to JFK Saturday (Jan. 28).
“We’re sorry for any confusion about our earlier tweet — it was not meant to break up any strike,” the company later clarified to Business Insider. “We wanted people to know they could use Uber to get to and from JFK at normal prices, especially last night.”
Meanwhile, the NY Taxi Workers Alliance held an hourlong strike against JFK “in support of all those who are currently being detained” at the airport over Trump’s “unconstitutional executive order,“ barring Syrian refugees and travelers from seven Muslim countries from entering the U.S.
“Professional drivers are over 20 times more likely to be murdered on the job than other workers,” the NY Taxi Workers Alliance wrote on Facebook. “By sanctioning bigotry with his unconstitutional and inhumane executive order banning Muslim refugees from seven countries, the president is putting professional drivers in more danger than they have been in any time since 9/11 when hate crimes against immigrants skyrocketed.
“Our 19,000-member-strong union stands firmly opposed to Donald Trump’s Muslim ban,” the statement continues. “As an organization whose membership is largely Muslim, a workforce that’s almost universally immigrant, and a working-class movement that is rooted in the defense of the oppressed, we say no to this inhumane and unconstitutional ban.”
Uber announced the creation of a $3 million defense fund to assist in legal expenses for those affected by the ban, after Lyft vowed to donate $1 million to the American Civil Liberties Union.
“Banning people of a particular faith or creed, race or identity, sexuality or ethnicity, from entering the U.S. is antithetical to both Lyft’s and our nation’s core values,” Lyft co-founders John Zimmer and Logan Green said in a statement. “We stand firmly against these actions, and will not be silent on issues that threaten the values of our community.”
Janelle Monae, Taraji P. Henson, and Jessie Williams have also deleted their Uber accounts.
Check below for #DeleteUber tweets.
Went ahead and did that but don’t forget to support the Taxi Workers’ Alliance as well. https://t.co/XxzbdEUAYz #deleteuber pic.twitter.com/bJlG2BvD8V
— jesse Williams. (@iJesseWilliams) January 29, 2017
I will be downloading the @Lyft app. post. haste. ( and they don’t cyber stalk you when your trip is over) https://t.co/XI4TUYhdET
— Anika Noni Rose (@AnikaNoniRose) January 29, 2017
Uber tried to break taxi strike at JFK #deleteuber
— cathy park hong (@cathyparkhong) January 29, 2017
Hearing #Lyft made a 1 million dollar donation to the ACLU to help them fight the Muslim ban, they’ve gained a customer. #deleteuber
— Simar Ahluwalia (@sahluwal) January 29, 2017
DELETING @UBER RIGHT THE FUCK NOW!!! #WeThePeople #LoveWILLwin #FuckHate #FuckOppression if you support HATE YO ASS GETS DELETED #BYEBITCH pic.twitter.com/tqGrgWTg7A
— Taraji P. Henson (@TherealTaraji) January 29, 2017
Canceling #Uber like…. #bye #nomuslimban #teamfreedomoverfear #teamstopdefendinghate… https://t.co/ka5kXcGiuQ
— Janelle Monáe, Cindi (@JanelleMonae) January 29, 2017
Just deleted my @uber account AND the app because of their support of Trump, and tacit support of the #MuslimBan #DeleteUber
— eid?🏽 (@eidvisuals) January 29, 2017
The boycott is on delete #uber get #lyft or #juno just as good and they dont track u when its off either!!
— John Leguizamo (@JohnLeguizamo) January 29, 2017