Microsoft fired Nisreen Jaradat and Julius Shan in connection with demonstrations that included encampments at company headquarters, according to Hossam Nasr of No Azure for Apartheid. Two other employees were dismissed after protesters accessed a company building and live-streamed inside Microsoft president Brad Smith’s office. Jaradat sent a mass internal email saying she was "fed up" with the company's treatment of her as a Palestinian worker and bypassed internal restrictions on language about Palestine and Gaza. No Azure for Apartheid repeatedly disrupted Microsoft, attempted a plaza occupation, returned with tents and poured red paint on a company sign; eighteen people were arrested. Smith said Microsoft is investigating potential Azure misuse in Israel and called the protesters’ actions "not ok." Microsoft declined to provide an attributable statement.
Two other Microsoft employees were fired last night for their involvement with a protest that saw members of the group gain access to a company building and live stream themselves inside the office of Microsoft president Brad Smith. Jaradat had previously sent a mass email around Microsoft saying she was "fed up" with the company's treatment of her as a Palestinian worker, bypassing the company's restrictions on language around Palestine and Gaza internally in order to do so.
The No Azure for Apartheid group has been taking public actions against Microsoft throughout the year. The group interrupted Microsoft executives during live streamed presentations on multiple occasions this spring. More recently, the group attempted to occupy a plaza on Microsoft's headquarters. After being removed, they returned the next day with tents and tables and poured red paint across a Microsoft sign; 18 people were arrested.
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