Our Approach

Signature Aviation is the nation's leading purveyor of jet fuel and aircraft servicing.  We are working to stop them from providing these services to ICE aircraft participating in detainee transfers or deportations.  Signature Aviation itself is owned jointly by Cascade Investment LLC and Blackstone Inc. 

Cascade Investment is a private company controlled by Bill Gates which serves as an investment vehicle for his assets.  Blackstone Inc. is a publicly traded alternative investment management company involved in private equity and real estate investing.  Through a campaign of letter writing and follow-up protests we aim to pressure Signature Aviation's owners into refusing service to ICE's planes.  

A form letter to send to Bill Gates that you can copy and personalize is below:

Dear Mr. Gates, 

As you are likely aware, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has recently detained a large number of individuals across our country.  I am concerned that this is occurring without adequate regard to specific situations and I believe that it is detrimental to our communities.  I recently learned that Cascade Investment's subsidiary, Signature Aviation, provides refueling and maintenance services at many airports throughout the United States.  I am writing to ask that you ensure these services are not provided to aircraft involved in the transport or removal of individuals detained by ICE.  

Sincerely, 

___________________

Emails to Bill Gates can be sent to either: bill.gates@gatesfoundation.org

or

team@gatesnotes.com 

A letter that you can copy, personalize and send to Jonathan Gray, the president and chief operating officer as well as other executive board members of Blackstone is below: 

Dear __________, 

I am writing to you in your capacity as member of Blackstone's board of directors.  As you are likely aware, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has recently detained a large number of individuals across our country.  I am concerned that this is occurring without adequate regard to specific situations and I believe that it is detrimental to our communities.  I recently learned that Blackstone's subsidiary, Signature Aviation, provides refueling and maintenance services at many airports throughout the United States.  I am writing to ask that you ensure these services are not provided to aircraft involved in the transport or removal of individuals detained by ICE. 

Sincerely, 

________________

 Emails to Jonathan Gray can be sent to:

gray@blackstone.com

Other Board Members:

Ruth Porat - RuthPorat@google.com

Rochelle Lazarus - Shelly.Lazarus@ogilvy.com

James Breyer - Jim@BreyerCapital.com

Note - all of these individuals sit on multiple corporate boards so their email domains are not necessarily from Blackstone itself. 

Avelo Airlines recently signed a contract to provide charter aircraft to ICE.  Starting May 12, it will provide three Boeing 737-800 aircraft to be based in Mesa, Arizona.  We want to encourage them to cancel this contract.  There are two ways you can help.  First, you can email the Avelo CEO - Andrew Levy - and tell him that you will not be flying on his airline as long as they are working with ICE.  His email is  alevy@aveloair.com. 

We have written a sample letter below which you can copy and personalize:

Mr. Levy, 

I am greatly concerned with Avelo Airlines' recent decision to offer aircraft charters to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. It is my belief that its recent actions in our country weaken our communities and are morally wrong. I cannot support any company which chooses to be complicit. For this reason, I will not purchase airfare from Avelo while it continues to offer charter aircraft to ICE. I strongly hope you re-consider this decision. 

Sincerely, 

_____________

There is another step you can take against Avelo Airlines.  To encourage them to offer flights out of New Haven's Tweed Airport the state of Connecticut offered them a guarantee against losses up to $2 million.  If you are a Connecticut resident you can contact your state representatives and the governor and ask that this be rescinded.