"Mark, You're Fired": Demonstrators Demand Zuckerberg's Removal

Photos by Teri Vershel, Probonophoto.org. Please credit the photographer.

Facebook Users Union recently launched a #FireZuck campaign to tell Facebook that it’s time for Mark Zuckerberg to go. Members of Indivisible SF Peninsula & CA-14, Raging Grannies, Radical Women, CodePink Women for Peace and others joined their protest in front of CEO Zuckerberg’s house on October 17.

Tracy Rosenberg of Media Alliance spoke outside the Zuckerberg Palo Alto home (which is just one of many) and said, “One person—especially someone who has such poor judgement—should not have sole power to decide what social media content will reach billions of people. Facebook needs new leadership that prioritizes the safety and wellbeing of its users and the global public.” She added that protesters were there to deliver the CEO a symbolic "pink slip."

A CodePink Women for Peace member brought out several pink slips. One of the Radical Women slipped a rosey negligee over her head with purpose and the action began. Raging Grannies in vintage hats led chants including, "Hey hey, ho ho, Zuckerberg has got to go!" and the crowd spontaneously shouted, "Mark, You're fired!"

It wasn't long before local residents came out to see what the noise was all about. One of the neighbors lamented that the Zuckerberg household fills the street with a constant stream of contractors. "Can the Raging Grannies help me with that?" they asked.

Protest organizers chose the date of October 17 for their demonstration because on that day in 2019 Zuckerberg made a shocking announcement. In a speech at Georgetown University, he said that the social media giant would let politicians and political campaigns lie on Facebook without any consequences. "And it’s just been one bad decision after another since then,” said Ted Lewis, Human Rights Director at Global Exchange.

In addition to the organizations mentioned above, other groups say that truth should matter on social media and endorsed the action. They include Resistance SF, Vigil for Democracy, Diablo Rising Tide and more.