Amazon operates a subsidiary called Amazon Web Services. This subsidiary operates servers that companies and government agencies use to host their data. One company, Palantir, uses its data to help Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) target suspected undocumented immigrants. ICE abuses against the human rights of immigrants are well documented. So what can we do about it?
As of 2017, Amazon received ~$600,000 a month from Palantir to host their data. If Amazon were to lose that much money a month due to a boycott and cancellation of its services, it would cease to continue that contract. This may seem like a lot of money, but the math is simple. An Amazon Prime membership is $13/month. If just over 40,000 people cancelled their membership, Amazon would cancel its contract.
This means no one has to be persuaded - There are 40,000 people who are already persuaded that ICE is wrong. All we need to do is act on that belief.
So do what you already know is right! Cancel your membership, refuse to purchase products through Amazon, and let the company know WHY you are doing this. Comment below to let us know why you have chosen to do the right thing and #BoycottAmazon.
More info here:
https://mijente.net/notechforice/
https://www.technologyreview.com/s/612335/amazon-is-the-invisible-backbone-behind-ices-immigration-crackdown/
https://theintercept.com/2017/03/02/palantir-provides-the-engine-for-donald-trumps-deportation-machine/
https://www.ethicalconsumer.org/ethicalcampaigns/boycott-amazon
(Image taken from: https://www.wbez.org/shows/wbez-news/what-could-hurt-chicagos-bid-for-amazons-hq2/4f420b43-2322-4da1-8274-460a27a89e26
