Tech's top CEOs mum after ICE killings, while leaders like Reid Hoffman, Yann LeCun speak out

In the wake of the tragic shooting of ICU nurse Alex Pretti in Minneapolis, some voices in the tech industry are beginning to emerge, yet many prominent figures remain conspicuously silent. The aftermath of George Floyd's death nearly five years ago saw a wave of outrage from both Wall Street and Silicon Valley. However, a year into the new administration, top executives have largely refrained from commenting on Pretti's death, as well as the recent killing of Renee Nicole Good. Pretti, a 37-year-old nurse and U.S. citizen, was shot by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents last Saturday. That same evening, Apple CEO Tim Cook attended a private screening of a documentary at the White House, alongside other prominent tech leaders like Amazon's Andy Jassy and AMD's Lisa Su. Despite the gravity of the situation, representatives from these companies, as well as the White House, have not responded to requests for comment. While some industry figures have spoken out, the silence from influential CEOs is notable. Former Meta chief AI scientist Yann LeCun expressed his outrage on social media, condemning the incident as a murder. LinkedIn co-founder Reid Hoffman also took to social media, emphasizing that while politics may play a role, humanity should guide responses to such tragedies. Google's Jeff Dean, a key player in AI development, voiced his concerns, stating that everyone, regardless of political beliefs, should denounce the violence. His remarks were met with gratitude from colleagues, as he highlighted the shameful nature of the shooting. In a stark contrast to the enthusiastic responses seen after Floyd’s murder, the tech industry's lack of engagement following these recent killings is disheartening. Companies such as Meta, Cisco, and Apple previously made significant financial commitments to support the Black Lives Matter movement and other equality initiatives. In response to the recent events, tech employees are pressuring their leaders to break their silence. A growing petition, with over 400 signatures from workers at major firms like Google and Amazon, is urging CEOs to take a stand against ICE’s actions. The petition calls for a demand to the White House for the withdrawal of ICE from cities, the cancellation of company contracts with ICE, and public condemnation of the agency's violent actions. While many executives have chosen to remain quiet, AI startup Anthropic's CEO Dario Amodei has publicly addressed the situation, expressing horror over the events in Minnesota. Other voices, including OpenAI’s James Dyett, have criticized the silence of tech leaders, questioning how dire the situation must become before they speak out. As tensions escalate, over 60 Minnesota-based companies, including Target and UnitedHealth, have called for immediate de-escalation in a public letter. Meanwhile, President Trump has designated a border czar to oversee the situation in Minneapolis, signaling a response from the federal government to the ongoing crisis.