18 Arrested at Microsoft HQ for Protesting Ties with Israeli Military, One Wrestled to Ground
On a recent day, the streets outside Microsoft’s headquarters in Washington were filled with chaos and controversy as approximately 18 activists were arrested for protesting the company’s ties with the Israeli military. The protest, which aimed to bring attention to Microsoft’s alleged complicity in human rights violations, turned violent when a demonstrator using a bullhorn was wrestled to the ground by police.
According to reports, the protest began peacefully, with activists gathering outside the Microsoft HQ to voice their concerns about the company’s involvement with the Israeli military. However, things took a turn for the worse when some of the protesters began to disrupt a farmer’s market that was set up near the company’s entrance.
Microsoft claimed that the protesters “disrupted, harassed, and took tables and tents from local small businesses at a lunchtime farmer’s market for staff.” The company’s statement also acknowledged that the police were called to the scene to restore order and that several protesters were taken away in handcuffs.
Despite the chaos and arrests, the protesters remained steadfast in their message, holding signs and chanting slogans demanding that Microsoft cut ties with the Israeli military. The demonstration was a stark reminder of the complex and often contentious issues surrounding Israel’s military activities, and the role that multinational corporations like Microsoft play in supporting those activities.
For years, human rights groups have accused Microsoft, along with other major tech companies, of providing technology and services to the Israeli military that are used to facilitate human rights violations in the occupied Palestinian territories. These allegations have been met with denials from the companies, who argue that their products are used for a variety of purposes and that they do not have the ability to control how they are used.
Despite these denials, the protesters at the Microsoft HQ remained convinced that the company was complicit in the human rights violations and that something needed to be done to hold them accountable. As one protester, who was among those arrested, put it: “Microsoft is a key player in the Israeli military’s ability to commit atrocities, and it’s our responsibility as consumers and citizens to hold them accountable.”
The protest outside Microsoft’s headquarters was just the latest in a series of demonstrations and campaigns aimed at highlighting the company’s ties with the Israeli military. In recent months, activists have targeted other major tech companies, including Google and Amazon, with similar protests and boycotts.
As the debate over Microsoft’s ties with the Israeli military continues to rage, it remains to be seen whether the company will ultimately change its stance or continue to face pressure from activists and human rights groups. One thing is certain, however: the protesters at the Microsoft HQ will not be silenced, and they will continue to fight for justice and human rights until their demands are met.
Source:
https://www.ndtvprofit.com/amp/world/microsoft-activists-arrested-in-hq-protest-over-israel-ties
