Microsoft has temporarily restricted access to a building at its Redmond headquarters following a protest in which demonstrators entered the office of President Brad Smith. The protest was organized by current and former employees who are calling for the company to sever its connections with the Israeli government.
The protesters broadcasted their entry into Building 34, which accommodates Microsoft executives, and proceeded to Smith’s office where they displayed banners. Shouting slogans related to their demands, they also attached noise-making devices to balloons displayed at the building’s entrance. One sign called for Smith to respond to accusations of “Crimes Against Humanity.”
Abdo Mohamed, an organizer with the No Azure for Apartheid group and a former Microsoft employee, confirmed that several current and former Microsoft staff were among the protesters, including Riki Fameli and Anna Hattle, as well as former employees Vaniya Agrawal, Hossam Nasr, and Joe Lopez.
This demonstration follows a previous incident less than a week earlier when another Microsoft employee was arrested during a separate protest at the same headquarters. Anna Hattle and the former employees were among those detained, as Redmond police reported that some protesters had acted aggressively.
The No Azure for Apartheid group has been active in organizing protests against Microsoft’s cloud contracts with the Israeli government. Recent disruptions at company events and instances of blocked emails containing the word “Palestine” highlight ongoing tensions linked to employee activism. An investigation published by The Guardian and other outlets recently indicated that Microsoft’s cloud services may be utilized by the Israeli government for extensive surveillance of Palestinians.
Microsoft has been approached for comments regarding this latest protest within its offices but did not respond before the publication deadline.
Source: https://www.theverge.com/news/766324/microsoft-building-34-lockdown-protesters-brad-smith-office