The promise of Democracy is Hope & Freedom. What happens when corporations abandon that promise?

America’s greatest exports have always been its ideals: Its passionate embrace of Liberty, and its culture.

Hope and Freedom. From the Pilgrims, who envisioned a land with freedom to worship, to the founding of America as a country with separation of church and state to ensure freedom to worship, to safeguard the pursuit of happiness; Immigrants have traveled here seeking Liberty, Opportunity, and the chance to build a better life.

What we witness now is the abandonment of this promise and its ideals.

The very institutions meant to uphold these ideals - corporations, our government, and the courts - must be held accountable when they appear to favor profit, fear, and actions that threaten our safety, security, or ability to thrive.

This is not just a question for politicians or historians. It’s a question for all of us.

As consumers, we hold power: the power to support businesses that reflect our values and to boycott those that enable harm. This post explores the immigrant paradox at companies like LinkedIn, challenges corporate complicity across companies like Walmart, Amazon, Spotify, OpenAI, Meta, etc; and explores the ethical alternatives we can switch to, and support.

Boycotting is an act of resistance and accountability.

The Immigrant Paradox at LinkedIn

LinkedIn’s leadership is just one example of a company built through the contributions of Immigrants.

Mohak Shroff, Senior VP of Engineering, immigrated from India and rose to become one of the most influential leaders in Silicon Valley.

Tomer Cohen - Chief Product Officer, is an immigrant from Israel who has shaped the platform’s global strategy.

Their journeys are inspiring. Yet, LinkedIn and other platforms, including Spotify have enabled ICE recruitment ads, sending a message of support for an agency responsible for the militarization of cities, assault on citizens, valid Visa holders and undocumented residents with zero criminal background. Families are terrorized, and human rights violated.

This paradox—celebrating immigrant success while enabling systemic harm—demands our attention.

LinkedIn is not alone. Spotify, Amazon, Meta, Walmart, and other corporations have been complicit allies, supporters, or donors: Funding policies and actions that violate the Constitution, constitutional norms, human rights, and our American values of Liberty and Justice.

This paradox is not new. Throughout American history, immigrants have built this nation, only to see its institutions betray the very ideals they sought.

The History of America Is a History of Immigrants

From the earliest settlers to today’s tech leaders, immigrants have built our railroads, cities, been the backbone of our manufacturing, and vanguards of tech through generations. Their contributions have shaped our national identity, and have woven their own unique patterns into our intellectual and cultural national tapestry.

The same institutions that have thrived on immigrant labor and ingenuity must now be held to the ideals that drew immigrants here in the first place.

Yet, we are witnessing the same institutions that have benefit from immigrant labor and ingenuity, now abandon the principles of democracy in pursuit of mergers, trade deals, and profit. This is madness.

A country that aims its military at its own people is not a Democracy.

A nation that permits corporations to profit from oppression is not living up to the promises that have always been foundational cornerstones of the United States.

Boycotting as Resistance

Boycotting is not about rejecting individual success, nor is it meant to personally attack the contributions of any company. It’s about rejecting complicity. It’s about standing up for our neighbors, and saying,

We see you, we honor your journey, and we cannot support a system that profits from suffering.

In an era where corporate power often eclipses democratic accountability, boycotting is not just resistance—it’s a necessity.

Here are some ethical alternatives to consider:

A Call to Action

Boycotting is just one tool in the toolkit of resistance. Research, share alternatives, and hold companies accountable.

For more resources visit #NoTechForICE and BoycottMAGA.

Final thought

Democracy is not a spectator sport.

We fuel democracy through our choices and actions - where we spend, where we work, and how we demand accountability. When we boycott, we reject complicity.

We remind the world that Democracy is fuel.

When you attempt these things, you are reminding us that Democracy is fuel,
It’s our Fire,
An ideal,
Made of Generations of dreams, immigration, vision and ideas.
Ideas endure.
Ideas stand tall.
No, you cannot stop Democracy.
No, you cannot stop democracy At All.

Ethical Choices, Immigrant Stories, and Boycotting to Spotlight Corporate Accountability