Microsoft Protests Lead to 18 Arrests
Eighteen people were taken into custody on Wednesday during protests at Microsoft’s Redmond campus, as demonstrations led by workers regarding the company’s connections with Israel continued for a second day.
According to authorities in Redmond, officers were sent at approximately 12:15 p.m. local time to disperse a significant crowd gathered in the company’s courtyard. It was reported that protesters resisted dispersal requests and some engaged in acts of vandalism, such as throwing paint on a Microsoft sign and obstructing a pedestrian bridge with tables and chairs from a nearby farmers’ market.
18 Arrested for Various Charges During Microsoft Campus Protest
Redmond police were present at the scene of the protest on August 20 around 12:15 p.m. Officers confirmed that 18 individuals were arrested for several charges, including trespassing, malicious mischief, resisting arrest, and obstruction, stating there were no injuries reported. Images shared on social media showed red paint smeared across a Microsoft logo.
This wave of arrests came after a substantial demonstration on Tuesday, where approximately 50 current and former employees of Microsoft, along with local activists, occupied the East Campus Plaza. This group, part of the “No Azure for Apartheid” campaign, renamed the area to “Martyred Palestinian Children’s Plaza,” set up tents and memorials, and urged company leaders to sever connections with the Israeli military.
The campaigners claim that Microsoft’s technology is being employed in Gaza for extensive surveillance and military operations. Earlier reports from The Guardian and +972 Magazine indicated that Israel’s military intelligence had stored millions of Palestinian communications on Azure servers, which were then allegedly used to identify bombing targets. Additionally, the Associated Press noted in February that Israel’s use of Microsoft’s commercial AI products surged nearly 200 times following the Hamas attack on October 7, 2023.
In response to these claims, Microsoft has stated that it enlisted the law firm Covington & Burling to conduct an independent review of the allegations but has consistently asserted that it has “found no evidence” of its technologies being used to target civilians.
“Today, the group returned and engaged in vandalism and property damage. They also disrupted, harassed, and took tables and tents from local small businesses at a lunchtime farmer’s market for employees,” Microsoft commented in a statement reported by Bloomberg.
The corporation further mentioned its commitment to uphold human rights standards in the Middle East while taking necessary actions to address unlawful activities that cause property damage, disrupt business, or endanger others.