In Redmond, Washington, Eighteen people were arrested on a variety of crimes, including trespassing, intentional mischief, resisting arrest, and obstruction, after a rally at the Microsoft campus in Redmond on Wednesday, August 20. “No Azure for Apartheid,” a group of current and past employees, planned the protest, which grew from a peaceful camp the day before.
The Redmond Police Department said that officers were sent to the Microsoft courtyard about 12:15 p.m. because there were a lot of protesters there. Reports said that the demonstrators got angry and fought back when police tried to give them trespass orders. Some protesters threw crimson paint on a big Microsoft sign to make it look like blood.
Police reportedly said that protestors used tables and chairs seized from a lunchtime farmer’s market for employees to block a pedestrian bridge and make barricades. Microsoft told Bloomberg that the vandalism was true and that the group “disrupted, harassed, and took tables and tents from local small businesses.” The business complimented the Redmond Police Department for how they handled the situation.
Microsoft’s economic links with Israel are at the heart of the criticism. The group “No Azure for Apartheid” says that the Israeli military is using the company’s technology, especially its Azure cloud computing platform, to help them fight in Gaza. They say that the technology leads to the deaths of civilians and the spying on Palestinians.
This demonstration is part of a bigger, continuing effort by the group. Activists have stopped speeches by CEO Satya Nadella and other business events in the past to make their demands known. The group’s efforts come after The Guardian published a story saying that the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) used Microsoft’s Azure to store data from their extensive surveillance of Palestinians.
Microsoft has hired the law firm Covington & Burling LLP to lead a “urgent review” in response to the claims. The company said that if the claims are accurate, they would constitute a breach of its terms of service, which say that its equipment can’t be used for illegal monitoring. This is the second examination of this kind; an earlier internal review by Microsoft found no proof that its technology was used to hurt individuals in the Gaza conflict.
Even though Microsoft is looking into the matter, the protesting workers and activists are still calling for the immediate cancellation of all contracts with the Israeli military and government. They say that a review is only a way to buy time.n cops tried to give them trespass notices. A few protesters threw crimson paint on a big Microsoft sign to symbolize blood.
Police reportedly said that protesters used tables and chairs stolen from a lunchtime farmer’s market for employees to obstruct a pedestrian bridge, making barricades. Microsoft told Bloomberg that the vandalism was true and that the gang “disrupted, harassed, and took tables and tents from small businesses in the area.” The business applauded the Redmond Police Department for its quick reaction.
The main reason for the protest is that Microsoft does business with Israel. The “No Azure for Apartheid” organization says that the company’s technology, especially its Azure cloud computing platform, is being utilized to help the Israeli military in the conflict in Gaza. They say that the technology leads to more killings of civilians and spying on Palestinians.
This protest is part of a bigger, continuing effort by the group. Activists have interrupted speeches by CEO Satya Nadella and other workplace events in the past to make their demands known. The group’s efforts come after The Guardian’s recent report that the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) used Microsoft’s Azure to store data from the mass surveillance of Palestinians.
Microsoft has responded to the claims by starting a “urgent review” sponsored by the law firm Covington & Burling LLP. The company said that if the claims are accurate, they would break its terms of service, which say that its equipment can’t be used for illegal spying. This is the second review of this kind; Microsoft’s first internal investigation found no proof that its technology was used to hurt individuals in the Gaza conflict.
Microsoft has looked into the matter, but the protesting employees and activists are still asking for an immediate end to all contracts with the Israeli military and government. They say that a review is only a way to buy time.