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Good Riddance Palantir Party at Company's Palo Alto Headquarters

by Protests Will Continue at New Denver HQ
CIA-backed data mining company Palantir says its involvement with ICE is in the interest of American citizens. San Francisco Bay Area immigrant rights activists counter that the company's development of technologies to surveil immigrants is immoral; they have protested frequently in front of the Palo Alto HQ. On September 21, demonstrators celebrated Palantir's exit from Silicon Valley with a colorful goodbye party.
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Photos by Bob Ulius

Protesters who say ICE violates human rights have held frequent protests in recent years at Palantir's Palo Alto headquarters because the company sells technology to Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

Palantir CEO Alex Karp has admitted that some of his favorite employees resigned over the controversy and has called Silicon Valley culture "intolerant." He specifically mentioned protests at his home and offices as a reason the company decided to relocate its headquarters away from Silicon Valley. Karp founded the company with Peter Thiel and others in 2003.

Last week, activists held demonstrations staged around Palantir's decision to move its headquarters to Denver. On September 21st, a coalition of groups including Mijente, Palo Alto Against ICE, and the Raging Grannies Action League organized a "good riddance" demonstration outside Palantir's former Palo Alto headquarters.

A Silicon Valley DSA member contributed humorous chants that the Raging Grannies turned into a poetry reading.* The Grannies started the party with a drumming/marching routine and performed the @danceofpeace under the expert direction of Sharat G. Lin.

An "unwelcome" protest organized by American Friends Service Committee's Economic Activism Program was held at the new Denver headquarters the following day.

*Poem created from chants by Paul Sherman of Silicon Valley DSA

It's time to say "bye Palantir"
We are so glad you won't be here
Today's the day we start to heal
The wounds made by that Peter Thiel
An angel sings and plays the harp
Now off to Denver, Alex Karp!
§Good Riddance Banner
by Protests Will Continue at New Denver HQ
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Taped on the headquarters next to front entrance
§Cupcakes symbolized the move to Denver
by Protests Will Continue at New Denver HQ
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Snowy mountain tops with trees and a skier too
§Mijente activist is smiling under his mask
by Protests Will Continue at New Denver HQ
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§Everyone cheered for Dance of Peace instructor Sharat Lin
by Protests Will Continue at New Denver HQ
sm_palantirbucheerforsharat.jpg
@danceofpeace
§Local Chicano Organizer & Mijente Member Rebeca Armendariz
by Protests Will Continue at New Denver HQ
sm_palantirburebeccalarge.jpg
§Speaker Dalit Baum of American Friends Service Committee
by Protests Will Continue at New Denver HQ
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Dalit heads AFSC Bay Area's Economic Activism Program
§Fly away Palantir!
by Protests Will Continue at New Denver HQ
sm_palantirbudenmbwaguwings.jpg
The monarch butterfly is a symbol of personal and internal change with an emphasis on change of perspective. The monarch was chosen as appropriate to this party as protesters said they wish for Palantir's enlightenment.
§Sharat G. Lin Led the Dance of Peace
by Protests Will Continue at New Denver HQ
sm_palantirbusharat1.jpg
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