Microsoft sees biggest escalation yet of protests over Palestine; “Liberated Zone” created in campus and more

Microsoft employees occupied company headquarters Tuesday in the most significant protest yet against the tech giant’s contracts with Israel, establishing an encampment they renamed “Martyred Palestinian Children’s Plaza.” Around 50 current and former Microsoft workers, alongside community supporters, took over the East Campus Plaza at the company’s Redmond, Washington headquarters as part of escalating demonstrations by the “No Azure for Apartheid” group. The protesters set up tents, erected memorials to Gaza casualties, and established a negotiating table inviting Microsoft executives to “come to the table” and end partnerships with the Israeli military.

The demonstration ended after approximately two hours when police ordered protesters to leave, threatening arrests for trespassing.