Protesters Temporarily Shut Down Microsoft Headquarters Building Over Israeli Government Ties
Protesters gained access to Microsoft’s headquarters, entering the office of Brad Smith, the company’s president, to demand that the tech giant sever ties with the Israeli government. Current and former Microsoft employees staged a sit-in protest at Building 34, which houses executive offices, calling for the company to end its cloud contracts with Israel.
The protesters live-streamed their actions on Twitch, showing themselves entering Building 34 and making their way to Smith’s office. During the protest, they unfurled banners and shouted slogans such as, “Brad Smith, you can’t hide, you’re supporting genocide!” Noisemakers attached to balloons were also placed at the building’s entrance, with one sign reading, “The People’s Court Summons Bradford Lee Smith on Charges of Crimes Against Humanity.”
The protest was organized by the group No Azure for Apartheid, which has been active in recent months opposing Microsoft’s ties to the Israeli government. Abdo Mohamed, a former Microsoft employee and organizer with the group, confirmed to The Verge that current employees Riki Fameli and Anna Hattle were part of the sit-in. They were joined by former employees Vaniya Agrawal, Hossam Nasr, and Joe Lopez.
The protest comes just days after another incident at Microsoft’s headquarters, where Anna Hattle and several former employees were arrested. According to Redmond police, some protestors allegedly became aggressive during a demonstration at a plaza on the campus.
This is not the first time No Azure for Apartheid has taken direct action against Microsoft. Earlier this year, a former employee disrupted the company’s 50th-anniversary event, confronting Microsoft AI CEO Mustafa Suleyman and calling him a “war profiteer.” Another former employee interrupted the proceedings, targeting Microsoft’s three CEOs. Additionally, the group disrupted multiple sessions at Microsoft’s Build conference, prompting the company to block emails containing the word “Palestine” in response to the protests.
The group’s efforts have gained momentum following an investigation published earlier this month by The Guardian, in collaboration with +972 Magazine and Local Call. The report revealed that the Israeli government is using Microsoft’s cloud services to store data and recordings of up to “a million calls an hour” made by Palestinians. This has raised significant concerns about the company’s complicity in human rights violations.
Microsoft has yet to respond to requests for comment on the latest protest. The company has faced growing internal and external pressure over its relationship with the Israeli government, with activists and employees demanding greater accountability.
The situation remains tense as No Azure for Apartheid continues its campaign, calling on Microsoft to end its contracts with Israel and commit to ethical business practices.
Source: https://www.theverge.com/news/766324/microsoft-building-34-lockdown-protesters-brad-smith-office
