Microsoft’s Redmond headquarters was temporarily locked down on Monday after activists from the group “No Azure for Apartheid” staged a sit-in at President Brad Smith’s office in Building 34.
The protestors livestreamed their action on Twitch, chanting slogans like “Brad Smith, you can’t hide, you’re supporting genocide!” and displayed banners accusing Smith of crimes against humanity.
The demonstration included both current and former employees who had previously been dismissed for activism. It follows months of protests against Microsoft’s cloud contracts with Israel, which a recent Guardian report claims are used to store data from millions of calls made by Palestinians in Gaza and the West Bank.
Bijay Pokharel
Bijay Pokharel is the Founder and Editor-in-Chief of Abijita.com and a freelance technology writer covering the tech industry since 2017. He specializes in cybersecurity, digital privacy, malware, vulnerabilities, and online safety, with a strong interest in internet protection and women’s online security. A dedicated tech enthusiast and continuous learner, Bijay approaches his professional work with clarity, rational thinking, and a calm, solution-oriented mindset.





