Philly Comcast employees stage walk-out; oppose Trump’s immigration order [photos]

Hundreds of Comcast employees in Philadelphia walked out of the cable giant’s headquaters on Thursday to protest President Trump’s executive order temporarily banning travel from seven Muslim-majority countries.

Comcast employees also staged walk-outs in San Francisco, New York and Washington D.C. The mass demonstrations were planned on Slack, the messaging platform popular with office workers.

“A lot of the people we were with are here on green cards, and we all think they have a right to be here,” said marcher Jen Lyons, program delivery director at Comcast.

“Comcast, people always think, is the big bad cable giant, but we really do care,” she said.

Comcast employees in Center City walk-out to oppose #MuslimBan. They’re about to march. Protest was organized on Slack. pic.twitter.com/4knYXN6SdZ

— Bobby Allyn (@BobbyAllyn) February 2, 2017

Hai Thai, a software engineer manager at Comcast, was also among the droves, many who were immigrants, marching from the company’s headquarters in Center City to City Hall. Some carried signs that read: “Immigration, Innovation,” while many chanted the two words as a slogan.

Thai, an immigrant from Vietnam, said he feels a sense of unity of many Muslim immigrants who feel under attack right now.

“I can relate to the Muslims here,” Thai said. “We were refugees, in some form or another. My family and friends are all refugees. We came from the boat, and all that stuff. We struggled. We’re not going to be silent about it. We want to make sure our voices are heard.”

Comcast employees who walked out to protest #MuslimBan chanting “love not hate is what makes this country great” & marching thru Center City pic.twitter.com/763TB5fiqg

— Bobby Allyn (@BobbyAllyn) February 2, 2017

In a statement, Comcast management said they didn’t oppose the demonstration, as long their employees remained marched peacefully. 

“We have assured our employees that no one will be asked to travel to a place that would result in them feeling vulnerable in any way. And, we have enhanced our employee resources programs to help any concerned employee navigate through this matter,” Comcast spokesman John Demming said.

Comcast engineer Aru Venkat held up a sign that read: “Tech has no walls.”

“As technologists, as engineers, we support immigration, and we’re protesting the ban on immigration from the seven predominantly Muslim countries,” Venkat said.

Comcast employees who walked out to say no to Trump’s #MuslimBan have arrived at Philly’s City Hall pic.twitter.com/P3r9Q65Pra

— Bobby Allyn (@BobbyAllyn) February 2, 2017

Also today, at a separate event, Comcast Senior Vice President David Cohen said diversity is the future of the U.S., saying that’s in contrast to “the other visions we’ve been hearing about recently.”