Report: Silicon Valley workers protest tech leader's Trump fundraiser

FILE - In this Oct. 2, 2012 file photo, Oracle CEO Larry Ellison gestures while giving a keynote address at Oracle OpenWorld in San Francisco. FILE - In this Oct. 2, 2012 file photo, Oracle CEO Larry Ellison gestures while giving a keynote address at Oracle OpenWorld in San Francisco. Photo: Eric Risberg, Associated Press Photo: Eric Risberg, Associated Press Image 1 of / 1 Caption Close Report: Silicon Valley workers protest tech leader's Trump fundraiser 1 / 1 Back to Gallery

Some employees of the Silicon Valley-based tech company Oracle reportedly walked out of work Thursday to protest Chairman Larry Ellison's fundraiser for President Donald Trump, according to Bloomberg News.

A source who asked to remain anonymous told Bloomberg News that 300 office employees and remote workers left their desks at noon to volunteer in a protest called No Ethics/No Work.

Ellison held the fundraiser on Wednesday at his Rancho Mirage estate in California's Coachella Valley near Palm Springs. The Desert Sun, a local newspaper, obtained a copy of the invitation revealing that supporters paid $100,000 to play golf with Trump and take a photo with him. For an extra $150,000, you could also participate in a round-table discussion with the president.

Proceeds from the event go toward the "Trump Victory" fund, a joint venture between the Trump campaign, the Republican party and 11 state Republican committees, according to the Wall Street Journal

Technology news website Recode called the Rancho Mirage golfing event, "the most significant display of support from a major tech titan for the president, by far."

ALSO: Report: Larry Ellison hosting Donald Trump at California estate

A Change.org petition addressed to Oracle leadership was posted a week before the fundraiser and asked Ellison to cancel the event. It was signed by more than 8,700 people.

"As Oracle employees, we must hold our leaders accountable for upholding their ethical responsibilities," the petition read. "Ellison's financial support of Donald Trump endangers the well-being of women, immigrants, communities of color, the environment, LGBTQ and trans communities, disabled people, and workers everywhere. Additionally, his alliance with this ignoble and destructive figure damages our company culture as well as our relationships with partners and customers."

I am an employee of @Oracle and I signed this petition. I am disappointed and dismayed that @LarryEllison would throw his support behind Donald Trump - at this time and in this fashion. My reasons differ a bit from the petition. Here's my explanation.https://t.co/Avsa3Q6TYU — Steven Feuerstein (@sfonplsql) February 19, 2020

A software developer for Oracle tweeted his protest, "Larry, for the good of Oracle and its employees, for the sake of the future of the United States and perhaps the entire world, please cancel your fundraiser. At least wait until the Democrats choose their candidate to then make your move."

Ellison, 72, was the fifth-richest person in American in 2019 and is worth $69.1 billion, according to Forbes. Ellison has shown support for conservative candidates in the past, hosting fundraisers for presidential hopeful Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., and Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla. in 2014.

The San Francisco Chronicle reported that he donated $3 million to a super PAC backing Rubio.

Amy Graff is a digital editor with SFGATE. Email her: agraff@sfgate.com.