News

Protesters demand Palantir end ICE contract

Company maintains an immigrant database for Immigration and Customs Enforcement

About 50 protesters, including tech and labor workers, demanded on Tuesday that Palo Alto-based Palantir Technologies break its ties with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).

Protesters from a coalition of 15 immigrants' rights, tech-worker and labor groups and community organizations attempted to deliver a letter of protest to company CEO Alex Karp at 11:30 a.m. at the company's downtown Palo Alto headquarters, located at 100 Hamilton Ave.

Groups included the Tech Workers Coalition, Silicon Valley Rising, Working Partnerships USA, SEIU United Service Workers West, Santa Clara County Democratic Party and Sacred Heart Community Service.

"We are here to increase public awareness of the work Palantir does for ICE that enables family separation and other abuses of refugees and immigrants in our country, and we ask that you cancel your contract with the agency. Furthermore, we call on any and all employees of Palantir to demand that the company drop its relationship with the agency," the protesters said in the letter.

According to a June 20 report by NBC News, Palantir accepted more than $4.9 million from ICE on May 30, which is part of a $39 million contract dating back to 2015 for operations and maintenance of Falcon, the company's intelligence database, which tracks immigrants' records and relationships, NBC found in a government database search.

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Other tech companies have also taken ICE contracts, including Hewlett Packard Enterprise, Thomson Reuters, Microsoft, Motorola Solutions, according to the NBC report. The protesters said that employees at some of the other firms have asked their companies to turn down ICE contracts.

Palantir employees locked the doors Tuesday. When the company didn't respond to a request to send a representative out to receive the letter, protesters taped it to the door, they said.

Bill James, chair of the Santa Clara County Democratic Party, said that it is time for Palantir and for the political, economic and government class of Silicon Valley to stand up to the Trump administration and decide that they will not be "complicit."

"Palo Alto is often referred to as the heart of Silicon Valley. We need a Silicon Valley with a heart, with true patriotism. Sometimes patriotism calls for companies to work with the government; and sometimes it calls for companies to stand against the government," he said.

In their letter, the protestors called the separation of immigrant families at the border "a national disgrace."

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"The stance of companies and people on this issue will be a litmus test for their ethical fortitude going forward," the letter states.

The Tech Workers Coalition said in a statement: "The entire tech industry is complicit, and fighting it requires us to organize throughout the industry, across roles, companies, and borders."

Palantir did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Sue Dremann
 
Sue Dremann is a veteran journalist who joined the Palo Alto Weekly in 2001. She is a breaking news and general assignment reporter who also covers the regional environmental, health and crime beats. Read more >>

Follow Palo Alto Online and the Palo Alto Weekly on Twitter @paloaltoweekly, Facebook and on Instagram @paloaltoonline for breaking news, local events, photos, videos and more.

Protesters demand Palantir end ICE contract

Company maintains an immigrant database for Immigration and Customs Enforcement

by / Palo Alto Weekly

Uploaded: Tue, Jul 31, 2018, 7:28 pm

About 50 protesters, including tech and labor workers, demanded on Tuesday that Palo Alto-based Palantir Technologies break its ties with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).

Protesters from a coalition of 15 immigrants' rights, tech-worker and labor groups and community organizations attempted to deliver a letter of protest to company CEO Alex Karp at 11:30 a.m. at the company's downtown Palo Alto headquarters, located at 100 Hamilton Ave.

Groups included the Tech Workers Coalition, Silicon Valley Rising, Working Partnerships USA, SEIU United Service Workers West, Santa Clara County Democratic Party and Sacred Heart Community Service.

"We are here to increase public awareness of the work Palantir does for ICE that enables family separation and other abuses of refugees and immigrants in our country, and we ask that you cancel your contract with the agency. Furthermore, we call on any and all employees of Palantir to demand that the company drop its relationship with the agency," the protesters said in the letter.

According to a June 20 report by NBC News, Palantir accepted more than $4.9 million from ICE on May 30, which is part of a $39 million contract dating back to 2015 for operations and maintenance of Falcon, the company's intelligence database, which tracks immigrants' records and relationships, NBC found in a government database search.

Other tech companies have also taken ICE contracts, including Hewlett Packard Enterprise, Thomson Reuters, Microsoft, Motorola Solutions, according to the NBC report. The protesters said that employees at some of the other firms have asked their companies to turn down ICE contracts.

Palantir employees locked the doors Tuesday. When the company didn't respond to a request to send a representative out to receive the letter, protesters taped it to the door, they said.

Bill James, chair of the Santa Clara County Democratic Party, said that it is time for Palantir and for the political, economic and government class of Silicon Valley to stand up to the Trump administration and decide that they will not be "complicit."

"Palo Alto is often referred to as the heart of Silicon Valley. We need a Silicon Valley with a heart, with true patriotism. Sometimes patriotism calls for companies to work with the government; and sometimes it calls for companies to stand against the government," he said.

In their letter, the protestors called the separation of immigrant families at the border "a national disgrace."

"The stance of companies and people on this issue will be a litmus test for their ethical fortitude going forward," the letter states.

The Tech Workers Coalition said in a statement: "The entire tech industry is complicit, and fighting it requires us to organize throughout the industry, across roles, companies, and borders."

Palantir did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Comments

Bunyip
Adobe-Meadow
on Aug 1, 2018 at 6:40 am
Bunyip, Adobe-Meadow
on Aug 1, 2018 at 6:40 am

What right do they think they have to tell a private company what do to? The issue is with ICE not Palantir.

What happened to democracy, free market principles?

What's more they are serving our government, our tax paying dollars. If you don't like, choose another government - not hard.


resident
Adobe-Meadow
on Aug 1, 2018 at 7:50 am
resident, Adobe-Meadow
on Aug 1, 2018 at 7:50 am

This is America and protestors do not have a right to dictate to private companies who in the Government that the company does business with. [Portion removed.]


Abitarian
Downtown North
on Aug 1, 2018 at 7:52 am
Abitarian, Downtown North
on Aug 1, 2018 at 7:52 am

Bunyip wrote:

"What right do they think they have to tell a private company what do to? If you don't like, choose another government."

----------

Well, actually, the First Amendment of the Bill of *Rights* -- which is part of our United States Constitution -- guarantees the *right* of free speech and the *right* of peaceable assembly, so these citizens most certainly do have the *right* to protest and express their opinions. They don't have to choose another government; our American government gives them this *right*.


R. Davis
Crescent Park
on Aug 1, 2018 at 8:35 am
R. Davis, Crescent Park
on Aug 1, 2018 at 8:35 am

QUOTE:...they are serving our government, our tax paying dollars. If you don't like, choose another government - not hard.

The 'love it or leave it' mentality...I thought that mindset had vanished decades ago. Apparently not.

QUOTE: They don't have to choose another government; our American government gives them this *right*.

Amazing how some folks tend to overlook/disregard this basic Constitutional principle.


"Workers"?
Midtown
on Aug 1, 2018 at 8:35 am
"Workers"?, Midtown
on Aug 1, 2018 at 8:35 am
MAGA, dude
The Greenhouse
on Aug 1, 2018 at 9:18 am
MAGA, dude, The Greenhouse
on Aug 1, 2018 at 9:18 am

If I decide to take my lunch hour to go hold a constitutionally protected right of assembly, why does that offend the first two posters? What do they have against the United States Constitution?

It's like the inauguration day protest with tens of thousands lining the street along El Camino.

Two young men drove slowly past, windows down, asking why we weren't at work. I asked them why they weren't at work, and their reply was: "it's lunchtime".

ding, ding, ding

They just chose to object to constitutional principles while the rest of us chose to protect the Constitution. Poor little snowflakes.

America.

Always has been great. Always will be, despite the buffoons.


AllYouCanEat
Woodside
on Aug 1, 2018 at 10:30 am
AllYouCanEat, Woodside
on Aug 1, 2018 at 10:30 am

People! In order to have an effective protest you must, "Loot & burn."

These protester are amateurs.


Annette
Registered user
College Terrace
on Aug 1, 2018 at 11:38 am
Annette, College Terrace
Registered user
on Aug 1, 2018 at 11:38 am

Palantir must hold the distinction of being the most unpopular company in town - and with different groups for all sorts of disparate reasons.

Some people don't like the company's domination of downtown real estate.

Some people don't like what the company does.

Some people don't like the way Palantir execs have insinuated themselves into City politics.

Some people object to what might be called "sweetheart" status with the City.

Some people object to the company's ties with PAF.

And here we see that some people don't like the company's government/ICE ties.

Palantir strikes me as a company that is contrary to what Palo Alto supposedly values; very much not of the much revered HP model. But there are, no doubt, people who like Palantir. Maybe some of them will chime in and tell us why. Campaign contributions might be one reason; support for PAF might also be a reason. Certainly the company is proof of our corporate diversity. Having Palantir downtown reminds me that times have changed and Palo Alto has changed with the times.


Palo Alto Traveler
Another Palo Alto neighborhood
on Aug 1, 2018 at 11:53 am
Palo Alto Traveler, Another Palo Alto neighborhood
on Aug 1, 2018 at 11:53 am

Seriously? The complete failure of tracking the families ripped apart by ICE and US Immigration was based on a database written by Palantir? Their products are THAT bad? Does this not make you wonder whether their databases are worth the code they are written in?

And by the way - freedom of speech and the First Amendment ensures that you or I or anyone in the country can protest/object, whether the target is a private company or not. Private companies, although they would like to think so, are not above the law.


Online Name
Registered user
Embarcadero Oaks/Leland
on Aug 1, 2018 at 12:02 pm
Online Name, Embarcadero Oaks/Leland
Registered user
on Aug 1, 2018 at 12:02 pm

Do yourselves a favor and research what Palantir does besides its work for ICE.


mauricio
Registered user
Embarcadero Oaks/Leland
on Aug 1, 2018 at 12:05 pm
mauricio, Embarcadero Oaks/Leland
Registered user
on Aug 1, 2018 at 12:05 pm

How much longer will individuals be allowed to protest against corporations and billionaires? Since even a supposedly liberal town like Palo Alto is being taken over by a corporation like Palantir, which makes spying by the government on its citizens a breeze, not much longer.


Sharon
College Terrace
on Aug 1, 2018 at 12:25 pm
Sharon, College Terrace
on Aug 1, 2018 at 12:25 pm

@ Annette: "Palantir strikes me as a company that is contrary to what Palo Alto supposedly values". Oh really? And you are the judge? It can work on whatever legal contract that it wants to ... nothing you can do about it. Read the Constitution.


resident
Adobe-Meadow
on Aug 1, 2018 at 12:38 pm
resident, Adobe-Meadow
on Aug 1, 2018 at 12:38 pm

There are people all over the world immigrating from their country of citizenship due to the total chaos of that government. [Portion removed.] The first problem is the country of origin - the young people should be rioting in their own countries to provide the gratuities they want. These countries have elected governments and every one now has access to what the obvious rights are of each citizen - an education, health care, water, and food. That requires a government that knows how to govern. Governance is a skill set. N United Nations attempts to provide some guidance. Bottom line is that our citizens do not have to sink to the level of chaos - try instead to assist in the situation.


MAGA, dude
The Greenhouse
on Aug 1, 2018 at 12:40 pm
MAGA, dude, The Greenhouse
on Aug 1, 2018 at 12:40 pm

geez, @resident, off-topic much?!?

When facts betray you - change topics!


resident
Adobe-Meadow
on Aug 1, 2018 at 12:51 pm
resident, Adobe-Meadow
on Aug 1, 2018 at 12:51 pm

So let's see here - MP has Facebook which has been implicated in the Russia Investigation and spying on US citizens - are you all over there rioting? NO - you all are having your pictures taken in front of the signage for the company. Google is also implicated in manner of data collection - are you all over there rioting? No you have having your picture taken in front of the signage. Palantir is doing classified work - and you do not know what that is because you do not have the clearances to know - is that what is bothering you? Classified work is done all over the valley. Get used to it. If they all picked up and left then the PACC would have to go into a overtime to figure out the bills in the city are paid.


Annette
Registered user
College Terrace
on Aug 1, 2018 at 1:05 pm
Annette, College Terrace
Registered user
on Aug 1, 2018 at 1:05 pm

@Sharon - your post suggests I did not make myself clear. How Palantir strikes me is nothing more than that; I did not mean to imply anything more.

I fully agree with you that a company can work on any legal contract it chooses. Similarly, individuals may or may not like what a company does, how it invests, etc. Every day people make such evaluations as they choose what they purchase, what they consume, how they invest, etc.


MAGA, dude
The Greenhouse
on Aug 1, 2018 at 1:07 pm
MAGA, dude, The Greenhouse
on Aug 1, 2018 at 1:07 pm

"So let's see here" - whataboutism!!

According to @resident, 4 wrongs make a right. Well played!


Esther Granderson
Old Palo Alto
on Aug 1, 2018 at 1:43 pm
Esther Granderson, Old Palo Alto
on Aug 1, 2018 at 1:43 pm

Keeping track of illegal immigrants who are felons seems reasonable.

On the other hand, keeping track of illegal immigrants simply for the sake of keeping track of them seems ludicrous.


What is Palantir?
Downtown North
on Aug 1, 2018 at 2:14 pm
What is Palantir?, Downtown North
on Aug 1, 2018 at 2:14 pm

a little bit about Palantir Web Link

Until recently the President of PAForward was a top executive at Palantir.


The PA Patriot
Midtown
on Aug 1, 2018 at 2:32 pm
The PA Patriot, Midtown
on Aug 1, 2018 at 2:32 pm

"What is Palantir?"

It is a database management company whose products protect Americans from those wishing to do us harm or disrupt our daily lives.




MAGA, dude
The Greenhouse
on Aug 1, 2018 at 2:36 pm
MAGA, dude, The Greenhouse
on Aug 1, 2018 at 2:36 pm
MAGA, dude
The Greenhouse
on Aug 1, 2018 at 2:38 pm
MAGA, dude, The Greenhouse
on Aug 1, 2018 at 2:38 pm

Don't forget what databases IBM helped with 75 years ago...



(yes, I just won the Godwin)



;)


resident
Adobe-Meadow
on Aug 1, 2018 at 3:46 pm
resident, Adobe-Meadow
on Aug 1, 2018 at 3:46 pm

[Portion removed.] I like Palantir and am happy that they are here. They are helping to organize a highly contentious issue and reduce chaos. Categorization and clarification in any situation leads to better management and governance of the issue at hand. What is not to like?


Online Name
Registered user
Embarcadero Oaks/Leland
on Aug 1, 2018 at 3:58 pm
Online Name, Embarcadero Oaks/Leland
Registered user
on Aug 1, 2018 at 3:58 pm

You might now have heard of Annette but presumably you've heard of the sources cited below the New York Times, Bloomberg, the business press and the tech press:

Never mind Cambridge Analytica. Peter Thiel's data-mining company Palantir is watching your every move (Advertising Age)
Web Link

Palantir Knows Everything About You (Bloomberg)
Web Link

Spy Contractor’s Idea Helped Cambridge Analytica Harvest Facebook Data
Web Link

Peter Thiel helped fund Cambridge Analytica's work (Mashable)
Web Link


Online Name
Registered user
Embarcadero Oaks/Leland
on Aug 1, 2018 at 4:09 pm
Online Name, Embarcadero Oaks/Leland
Registered user
on Aug 1, 2018 at 4:09 pm

"Classified work is done all over the valley. Get used to it. If they all picked up and left then the PACC would have to go into a overtime to figure out the bills in the city are paid."

As was pointed out in Greg Schmidt's presentation, the share of the bills paid by corporations keeps dropping with residents paying 75% even though 3 jobs keep being added for every PA residents. So not a tough job.

"MP has Facebook which has been implicated in the Russia Investigation and spying on US citizens - are you all over there rioting? No--"

Good point. Maybe we should be if we value our democracy. Europe's investigating Facebook, the US Congress is investigating Facebook and Facebook had the largest stock market decline in history. It still allows holocaust deniers and only recently pulled 4 of InfoWars' recent videos denying Sandy Hook happened. probably because InfoWars' founder is being sued because his loony followers keep threatening the Sandy Hook followers.


Bucko to the cups
Barron Park
on Aug 1, 2018 at 4:13 pm
Bucko to the cups, Barron Park
on Aug 1, 2018 at 4:13 pm

I hear palinter will be used by Kamela to reopen Obama's FEMA camps.


R. Davis
Crescent Park
on Aug 1, 2018 at 4:47 pm
R. Davis, Crescent Park
on Aug 1, 2018 at 4:47 pm

QUOTE: What right do they think they have to tell a private company what do to?

Try to think of it as a 'consciousness raising' effort. This is no different than protesters demanding that various US companies stop doing business with apartheid South Africa awhile back.


Curmudgeon
Downtown North
on Aug 1, 2018 at 5:13 pm
Curmudgeon, Downtown North
on Aug 1, 2018 at 5:13 pm

"QUOTE:...they are serving our government, our tax paying dollars."

Yup, "serving" for taxpayer money. Just like any other mercenary.

Look Palantir, why not leave town and lose this kind of troublesome publicity?

Look city hall, why not enforce your occupancy codes against this monolith in our midst?


resident
Adobe-Meadow
on Aug 1, 2018 at 6:19 pm
resident, Adobe-Meadow
on Aug 1, 2018 at 6:19 pm

Oh - the Apartheid angle. South Africa was a colony of the United Kingdom and is still considered part of the Commonwealth. Apartheid was specific to the businesses run by the British - the diamond mines, etc. Sorry don't think that the US had any great involvement in the British Kingdom specific industries which they owned and controlled. That is another attempt to spread the responsibility for the colonization of most of the world by the EU major countries. Africa today has states which are considered unique but the original colonizers still control the commercial entities in the African countries. But like Vietnam which was a colony of France we get called in to fight other people's wars and be a ATM card for what ever they are contemplating. Time to raise the consciousness as to who is responsible for what on the planet.

As far as I can see all of our neighboring cities have monoliths in their boundaries which are providing jobs.

As to Palantir knowing everything about you they only know what you keep putting on FB and Google. And Peter Theil got torn apart by the SJM during the campaigns because he donated to DT. It is not a "value" to dictate to other people what and where they donate their money. However I take issue with George Soros and the chaos he keeps creating and funding.


R. Davis
Crescent Park
on Aug 1, 2018 at 6:53 pm
R. Davis, Crescent Park
on Aug 1, 2018 at 6:53 pm

QUOTE: Time to raise the consciousness as to who is responsible for what on the planet.

We all are...as instigators, followers & do-nothings.


mauricio
Registered user
Embarcadero Oaks/Leland
on Aug 1, 2018 at 7:00 pm
mauricio, Embarcadero Oaks/Leland
Registered user
on Aug 1, 2018 at 7:00 pm

Not being a lawyer, I am not certain if the US government has a right to spy on its citizens, although I don't think it has that right without permission from a federal court. However, I know for certain that it is highly immoral for the US government to spy on its citizens

Palantir is enabling the US government to spy on its citizens with ease, and makes huge profits doing so, which is blood money, and that's probably illegal and definitely immoral, which is why Palantir should be chased out of Palo Alto like a bad disease, and certainly not allowed to take over downtown.


resident
Adobe-Meadow
on Aug 1, 2018 at 7:37 pm
resident, Adobe-Meadow
on Aug 1, 2018 at 7:37 pm

WOW - The spying on US citizens by the government is exactly what the issues are now relative to the FBI and CIA in their actions during the campaign. You need to follow the bouncing ball on what the previous people in power were pulling. As to what the government knows about anyone is subject to the job they are employed in. Background checks are part of the clearance cycle if you are in the defense industry. Now if you go into the airport you get faster service if you are PRE-TSA approved. If you have credit cards that accumulate airline miles then you have a whole network that gets you faster and better service. The banking industry depends on knowing who you are which helps to protect you. The bigger your network is concerning your specific data by reputable agencies then you are better off. As to Palantir they are specific to protection of government systems which is all to the good.


Villagers
Crescent Park
on Aug 1, 2018 at 9:11 pm
Villagers, Crescent Park
on Aug 1, 2018 at 9:11 pm

Wow. This guy goes far afield.


1984
Stanford
on Aug 1, 2018 at 9:31 pm
1984, Stanford
on Aug 1, 2018 at 9:31 pm

@resident
your quote...The bigger your network is concerning your specific data by reputable agencies then you are better off.

Are you also in favor of DNA data banks?

In other words, where does personal privacy begin & end in terms of what you seem to be advocating as SECURITY?


resident
Adobe-Meadow
on Aug 2, 2018 at 5:56 am
resident, Adobe-Meadow
on Aug 2, 2018 at 5:56 am

DNA data banks? You are accusing people of going astray? You all are all over the place to justify your peevishness. Apartheid? 1984? In case you have not noticed the former wife of Google exec is the head of 23 and me - a DNA data collection agency. So where is DNA going here? The NYT did a large presentation as to how the original humans traversed out to the rest of the world via DNA data. That was a PBS special - we assume that PBS is acceptable to all as a data source. If you watch PBS and their specific specials then you are watching the end result of scientific data gathering which SU is very good at. And Wikipedia is providing data on people, places, and events to lock in the historic relevance of events and people. Google and FB are very good at pulling in all of the events because you all keep posting your personal data. It is up to each individual as to what data people have based on what you are posting. Personal responsibility gets lost in displacement of responsibility. The government is responsible for managing the resources within the boundaries of the US. To that end they gather data on what is happening within the borders of the US. And you are arguing as to the logic of that happening? Go no further then the state of CA which is on fire now, drought, and then flooding to grasp what the relevance is of data gathering. Still you have no case for going after one company who is paid to track the random chaos and pull it all together in a more comprehensive data source.


R. Davis
Crescent Park
on Aug 2, 2018 at 8:30 am
R. Davis, Crescent Park
on Aug 2, 2018 at 8:30 am

From the article....

>Palantir employees locked the doors Tuesday.

>Palantir did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

^^^^^Usually indicative of something 'fishy' going on.


Annette
Registered user
College Terrace
on Aug 2, 2018 at 9:27 am
Annette, College Terrace
Registered user
on Aug 2, 2018 at 9:27 am

@Resident/Adobe-Meadow - I think you make some excellent points and especially like this one: "Personal responsibility gets lost in displacement of responsibility." Also, your comments about Palantir and others written in response are instructive. Thank you.


Sharon
College Terrace
on Aug 2, 2018 at 3:32 pm
Sharon, College Terrace
on Aug 2, 2018 at 3:32 pm

@ Annette: From the original article, "About 50 protesters, including tech and labor workers, demanded on Tuesday that Palo Alto-based Palantir Technologies break its ties with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). "

The operative word is "demanded". It didn't say "we disagree" or "we disagree".

You may be of the opinion that Palantir does not "represnt Palo Alto values" (whatever they are), but your opinion should not be allowed to "demand" anything from the rest of us.


MAGA, dude
The Greenhouse
on Aug 2, 2018 at 3:54 pm
MAGA, dude, The Greenhouse
on Aug 2, 2018 at 3:54 pm

"but your opinion should not be allowed to "demand" anything from the rest of us."

Sounds demanding to me.

Did the protesters DEMAND, or did the media assign that value in the reporting? Shall we talk about what the red hats at the rallies are DEMANDING be done about the media?


resident
Adobe-Meadow
on Aug 2, 2018 at 3:56 pm
resident, Adobe-Meadow
on Aug 2, 2018 at 3:56 pm

Sharon - right on. We have multiple generations of people in PA and on the peninsula who all came of age in very different political settings and have a sense of what works and what is counterproductive. From WW2, Korean War, Vietnam War all demanded a different takes on outcome. But we all have been US citizens who back up the US government. It is time that everyone get on board and support the US Programs. Attempting to integrate chaos into the everyday life of people has reached it's limit.


Todd
another community
on Aug 2, 2018 at 3:59 pm
Todd, another community
on Aug 2, 2018 at 3:59 pm

Wow Sharon, people can demand whatever they want to, if you have a problem with the demand you should state that rather than complain about the language they're using.


Sharon
College Terrace
on Aug 2, 2018 at 6:06 pm
Sharon, College Terrace
on Aug 2, 2018 at 6:06 pm

@ All the "Demanders": If I demand that you abandon your efforts on the part of your liberal causes, would that be OK? I wouldn't think so. Minds are like parachutes ... they need to be open to work! Palantir has every right to work on an ICE contract. BTW, the Palo Alto 'culture' is changing with the times...the Vietnam leftist/socialist period is fading fast.


R. Davis
Crescent Park
on Aug 2, 2018 at 6:19 pm
R. Davis, Crescent Park
on Aug 2, 2018 at 6:19 pm

QUOTE: BTW, the Palo Alto 'culture' is changing with the times...the Vietnam leftist/socialist period is fading fast.

It's beginning to look that way...to a certain extent. Amazing how 'big money' can alter one's perspective.

Might as well rename Palo Alto...to Danville.


Todd
another community
on Aug 2, 2018 at 8:15 pm
Todd, another community
on Aug 2, 2018 at 8:15 pm

Absolutely SHOCKED that a city with an average home price of $2+ million isn't a hotbed of liberal activism. Next thing I should be surprised that the city is 90% Republican?


resident
Adobe-Meadow
on Aug 2, 2018 at 8:24 pm
resident, Adobe-Meadow
on Aug 2, 2018 at 8:24 pm

Is there any one here who is being materially harmed by the presence of Palantir or is this just an exercise is political rally points? Some people here see themselves as "leaders" in assembling a rally - like a training ground for future rallies. Given the attention to FB and Google by the press makes me wonder why there is a focus on Palantir. Or is that just going back to the campaign when Peter donated to DT? This looks like such a phony protest. Why do people waste their time doing rallies? I went to one in MV and every one had a sign in which the word HATE was the biggest word - what ever else was on the signs was too small to read. That whole event was so meaningless - time wasted.

[Portion removed.]


resident
Adobe-Meadow
on Aug 2, 2018 at 8:31 pm
resident, Adobe-Meadow
on Aug 2, 2018 at 8:31 pm

Todd - we are living in the state with the highest tax rate and home price. Also a very high educational profile per person.
Maybe we are just not buying the "message" that the D party is shoveling out. The D party is no longer the party of JFK.


R. Davis
Crescent Park
on Aug 2, 2018 at 8:40 pm
R. Davis, Crescent Park
on Aug 2, 2018 at 8:40 pm

Here's a real shocker...Read & digest the content slowly.

Web Link



resident
Adobe-Meadow
on Aug 2, 2018 at 8:45 pm
resident, Adobe-Meadow
on Aug 2, 2018 at 8:45 pm

I never download "stuff" to my computer that I do not know what it is. The shocker is probably a corruption to your computer. I will remian unshocked. Except for the comments made by people on this stream.


Silly Sil
Adobe-Meadow
on Aug 2, 2018 at 8:51 pm
Silly Sil, Adobe-Meadow
on Aug 2, 2018 at 8:51 pm

"the Vietnam leftist/socialist period is fading fast.”

How many of the last half dozen presidental elections, did the GOP get more votes than the Dems?

92? 96? 2000? 2008? 2012? 2016? Just 2004.


Todd
another community
on Aug 2, 2018 at 8:57 pm
Todd, another community
on Aug 2, 2018 at 8:57 pm

Most of us have already figured out that the "D party" means the boomers thought they could stay hip forever so they made up some "business friendly democrat" Peter Pan bs and never have to grow up into Republicans.


R. Davis
Crescent Park
on Aug 2, 2018 at 8:59 pm
R. Davis, Crescent Park
on Aug 2, 2018 at 8:59 pm

@resident

The article pertained to HP's current role in global apartheid (2016).

So even if a certain practice can be traced (or attributed) to a specific country, those companies conducting business with that particular country are often assisting (whether directly/indirectly) with that practice.

And since the business economy is global to a great extent, there are a lot of businesses doing just that.



D party, R Party
another community
on Aug 2, 2018 at 10:33 pm
D party, R Party, another community
on Aug 2, 2018 at 10:33 pm

To move forward, choose D. To go backward, choose R.


Disgusted with hobbits
Another Palo Alto neighborhood
on Aug 3, 2018 at 7:02 am
Disgusted with hobbits, Another Palo Alto neighborhood
on Aug 3, 2018 at 7:02 am

Palantier is bad for Palo Alto residents. It controls 20+ buildings downtown, our primary retail and small startup center. It papers over the first floor windows (shhhhh - we are doing our dirty dirty work and it’s very secret and very private and its making us very rich so you who live here can’t see it).
it’s bad for Palo Alto. It’s work for ICE speaks for itself. Then there is it’s work for the NSA, FBI, CIA, Army, and many police departments - all with the capacity of repression and oppression.
It’s employees have found Palo Alto and Bay Area Forward to be useful to push for big development of market rate housing, with Palantir people being among founders and on the steering committee.


JR McDugan
Registered user
Palo Verde
on Aug 3, 2018 at 7:41 am
JR McDugan, Palo Verde
Registered user
on Aug 3, 2018 at 7:41 am

Palantir has materially harmed Palo Alto residents in numerous ways, the incident where they removed public access to areas at Cubberley for weeks is the most obvious example.


resident
Adobe-Meadow
on Aug 3, 2018 at 8:07 am
resident, Adobe-Meadow
on Aug 3, 2018 at 8:07 am
MAGA, dude
The Greenhouse
on Aug 3, 2018 at 8:28 am
MAGA, dude, The Greenhouse
on Aug 3, 2018 at 8:28 am

"Minds are like parachutes ... they need to be open to work!"

Because when I think "open minds" I think of the Red Hats at His Orangeness' rallies, screaming "fake news" at anything He tells them not to like.

So "open minded".


Sanctimonious City
Registered user
Barron Park
on Aug 3, 2018 at 12:20 pm
Sanctimonious City, Barron Park
Registered user
on Aug 3, 2018 at 12:20 pm

Yes, the 1st and 4th amendments are some of our most important constitutional rights. That is why I look forward to all these stalwart defenders of free speech and unauthorized search and seizure in this post standing up in solidarity with their fellow patriots when the following happens:

- Trump rally attendees are beaten and pelted with eggs in San Jose while cops stand idle and watch
- Conservative speakers are threatened and shouted down in UC Berkeley and other college campuses
- Teenagers wearing MAGA hats are assaulted and spit on in Seattle
- Republican campaign offices are fire bombed in North Carolina
- Republican congressmen are shot playing baseball in Washington, D.C.
- The Trump campaign is illegally spied upon by the FBI
- The Departments of Justice and State illegally unmask U.S. citizens included in surveillance with foreign nationals
- The Obama administration weaponizes the IRS to disrupt 501(c)(3) organizations in at attempt to suppress republican turnout
- The California legislature criminalizes the use of "incorrect" pronouns by nursing home staff in an unconstitutional law compelling specific speech.

Thank you comrades for your support.


MAGA, dude
The Greenhouse
on Aug 3, 2018 at 12:44 pm
MAGA, dude, The Greenhouse
on Aug 3, 2018 at 12:44 pm
@Sanctimonious Poster
Mountain View
on Aug 3, 2018 at 12:58 pm
@Sanctimonious Poster, Mountain View
on Aug 3, 2018 at 12:58 pm
Online Name
Registered user
Embarcadero Oaks/Leland
on Aug 3, 2018 at 1:01 pm
Online Name, Embarcadero Oaks/Leland
Registered user
on Aug 3, 2018 at 1:01 pm

Re the 1st Amendment, 5 journalists were murdered yet Trump and Sanders keep inciting violence by calling the media "enemies" of the people. Disgusting and irresponsible. Sort of reminds one of Putin murdering journalists and his other critics, no?

Weapons of mass distraction like that are dangerous but I guess it beats discussing the real issues. For some.


Sanctimonious City
Registered user
Barron Park
on Aug 3, 2018 at 1:14 pm
Sanctimonious City, Barron Park
Registered user
on Aug 3, 2018 at 1:14 pm
A View From Abroad
Stanford
on Aug 3, 2018 at 1:21 pm
A View From Abroad, Stanford
on Aug 3, 2018 at 1:21 pm

QUOTE:...yet Trump and Sanders keep inciting violence by calling the media "enemies" of the people. Disgusting and irresponsible.

What did America do to deserve the likes of Donald Trump, Sarah Huckabee Sanders & John Sessions amongst others?

While Hillary is no prize either, was some sort of bizarre karma involved?


Sanctimonious City
Registered user
Barron Park
on Aug 3, 2018 at 1:35 pm
Sanctimonious City, Barron Park
Registered user
on Aug 3, 2018 at 1:35 pm

"What did America do to deserve the likes of Donald Trump, Sarah Huckabee Sanders & John Sessions amongst others?"

For starters, the globalist elite class of the country implemented a 30 year set of policies of open borders, unfair trade practices and unnecessary foreign wars that decimated our middle class and exploded our national debt.

Unfortunately, it's a common story played out around the world. A very small minority exploited the majority to grow enormously wealthy and then turned around and persecuted and ridiculed them while they stabbed them in the back.

Unlike the rest of the world, we fortunately have a political system that can course correct without the need for revolution.


MAGA, dude
The Greenhouse
on Aug 3, 2018 at 1:37 pm
MAGA, dude, The Greenhouse
on Aug 3, 2018 at 1:37 pm
@Sanctimonious Poster
Mountain View
on Aug 3, 2018 at 1:52 pm
@Sanctimonious Poster, Mountain View
on Aug 3, 2018 at 1:52 pm
A View From Abroad
Stanford
on Aug 3, 2018 at 2:28 pm
A View From Abroad, Stanford
on Aug 3, 2018 at 2:28 pm

Perhaps the key question is...what has Donald Trump actually accomplished in his first 1.5 years in office?


MAGA, dude
The Greenhouse
on Aug 3, 2018 at 2:34 pm
MAGA, dude, The Greenhouse
on Aug 3, 2018 at 2:34 pm

"what has Donald Trump actually accomplished in his first 1.5 years in office?"

Tax cuts for billionaires, and judges. The GOP has no plans for legislation to help Americans with healthcare, jobs or education.

Side benefits include: forgiving his puppeteer Putin for election meddling/conspiracy, weakening our election security for 2018/20, elevating North Korea to the world stage with no American benefit, stagnant wages, etc..


@A View From Abroad
Mountain View
on Aug 3, 2018 at 2:35 pm
@A View From Abroad, Mountain View
on Aug 3, 2018 at 2:35 pm

"Perhaps the key question is...what has Donald Trump actually accomplished in his first 1.5 years in office?"

In a positive way? Not much, if anything at all.

In a negative way? Not sure anyone has the time to list it all in one session...


MAGA, dude
The Greenhouse
on Aug 3, 2018 at 2:55 pm
MAGA, dude, The Greenhouse
on Aug 3, 2018 at 2:55 pm

Poor Trumpettes. They now have to spin all the things that White House administration, Trump-appointed, Trump supporters are saying about Donny, once they leave the administration.


From the new book:

President Donald Trump in upcoming book: “His mental decline could not be denied”

“I realized that something real and serious was going on in Donald’s brain,” Manigault-Newman writes in an excerpt

...former "Apprentice" star and White House staffer, alleges that she observed the "mental decline" of her former boss on reality TV and in Washington, President Donald Trump.

"UNHINGED: An Insider's Account of the Trump White House," which was obtained by the Daily Mail.

In the excerpt, Manigault-Newman describes her reaction to watching Trump's May 2017 interview with NBC's Lester Holt about the firing of former FBI Director James Comey.

"Donald rambled. He spoke gibberish," Manigault-Newman wrote. "He contradicted himself from one sentence to the next."

[Portion removed.]


Sanctimonious City
Registered user
Barron Park
on Aug 3, 2018 at 3:33 pm
Sanctimonious City, Barron Park
Registered user
on Aug 3, 2018 at 3:33 pm
@Sanctimonious Poster
Mountain View
on Aug 3, 2018 at 3:38 pm
@Sanctimonious Poster, Mountain View
on Aug 3, 2018 at 3:38 pm
MAGA, dude
The Greenhouse
on Aug 3, 2018 at 3:50 pm
MAGA, dude, The Greenhouse
on Aug 3, 2018 at 3:50 pm
Sanctimonious City
Registered user
Barron Park
on Aug 3, 2018 at 4:10 pm
Sanctimonious City, Barron Park
Registered user
on Aug 3, 2018 at 4:10 pm
@Sanctimonious Poster
Mountain View
on Aug 3, 2018 at 4:15 pm
@Sanctimonious Poster, Mountain View
on Aug 3, 2018 at 4:15 pm
MAGA, dude
The Greenhouse
on Aug 3, 2018 at 4:43 pm
MAGA, dude, The Greenhouse
on Aug 3, 2018 at 4:43 pm

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