REDMOND, Wash. — The Redmond Police Department (RPD) says a group of pro-Palestinian protesters breached the executive offices at Microsoft’s Headquarters.
Seven people have been arrested.
According to Microsoft president Brad Smith, the group locked itself inside his office.
“That kind of contact is not necessary in order to get us to pay attention, but more importantly, perhaps it distracts from the real dialog that we must sustain with the different employee groups,” said Smith.
There were also about 20 other people protesting peacefully outside the building.
An organizer for the Pro-Palestine group ‘No Azure for Apartheid,’ says they were calling on Microsoft to cut their ties with the Israeli government.
“Gaza for us is something that we are willing to give our employment, our livelihood, our bodies, put them on the line,” said Abdo Mohamed, a former Microsoft employee and organizer for ‘No Azure for Apartheid.’
Smith says two of the protesters are current Microsoft employees and one is a former Google employee.
No injuries were reported.
Smith said Microsoft is looking to see how these protesters got inside the offices.
“We did get a report yesterday afternoon from an employee that someone from the activist group, No Azure for Apartheid, was calling around and seeking a floor plan of this floor. So obviously one way or another. They figured out how to get in, we’ll adapt our security accordingly,” Smith explained.
Smith said he supports freedom of expression, as long as it’s done lawfully.
“It’s essential that we maintain the safety and security of our campus and our facilities. We’ll do that as well. And I think it’s fair and it’s appropriate at the end of the day to reflect on the fact that sometimes people look at a big company and they think it’s some anonymous creation or creature. In fact, everyone who works here is a person and we call care about what’s happening in the Middle East,” Smith said.
This comes almost a week after 18 people were arrested outside Microsoft’s HQ in Redmond on August 20 when pro-Palestinian protesters were trespassed by police and allegedly became aggressive and damaged property.
“As long as Microsoft continues to do its business with the Israeli military and government, we will not stop. We will not rest until divestment happens,” Mohamed added.
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