Last night, our CEO shared a note with the entire Vimeo staff regarding a recent executive order in the U.S. — where Vimeo HQ is located — that impacts immigration policy. We wanted to share his letter with our greater community.
Over the weekend, we saw confusion, court orders, and ordinary U.S. residents being detained at our airports as a result of a Friday afternoon executive order. While the order does not directly impact any Vimeo employees, we are a company filled with immigrants and children of immigrants and a wide range of religions — and we are deeply troubled by potential implications on our families, our friends, our partners, and our community.
We understand and appreciate that our government needs to make difficult decisions in the interest of America's national security, but we believe it is critical that the White House considers the specifics, the context, and the tone of any approach that can undermine the freedom and equality that we love about our country.
At Vimeo, we appreciate the power of great storytelling — how small elements and emphases can impart messages and emotions. The executive order enacted on Friday was born of a campaign promise to ban an entire religion from entering our country. This was followed almost immediately by a message from the President expressing concern for one single religion in a war-torn region that produces millions of refugees of many religions. This belies a disturbing storyline — not one solving for a problem of security inferiority but promoting an agenda of religious superiority. That story worries us as Americans and as human beings.
At Vimeo, we will do everything in our power to uphold our beliefs in equality, protect our employees, and stand up for our global community of creators. We hope and pray that the President considers rewriting this story to reflect the values that have made our country a haven and a beacon for freedom in the world.
– Joey Levin
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