About 20,000 people attended Microsoft’s Ignite conference in San Francisco. Current and former Microsoft employees and organizers with the No Azure for Apartheid campaign were present to protest the company’s contracts with the Israeli government and to highlight allegations that Microsoft’s services are being used to support military actions in Gaza. TRNN Editor-in-Chief Maximillian Alvarez spoke with Patrick Fort, a Microsoft senior engineer who resigned in protest at Ignite, and Hossam Nasr, an organizer with No Azure for Apartheid who was dismissed by Microsoft.
Additional links/info:
No Azure for Apartheid Instagram and Linktree
Related reporting: Maximillian Alvarez, The Real News Network – «Microsoft cancels Israeli spy unit access after tech worker revolt»
Credits:
Post-production: David Hebden
Transcript
The following is an initial transcript that may contain errors. A verified version will be published when available.
Maximillian Alvarez:
At Microsoft’s Ignite conference in San Francisco-attended by roughly 20,000 people-current and former Microsoft workers, including members of No Azure for Apartheid, staged protests to draw attention to the company’s business with the Israeli government and alleged involvement in actions in Gaza. The video below, from No Azure for Apartheid’s Instagram, shows an employee confronting Judson Altoff during the keynote.
Patrick Fort:
During the keynote, Patrick Fort publicly announced that he had resigned after seven years at Microsoft. He addressed Judson Altoff directly, saying he would not be complicit in what he described as actions causing civilian harm in Gaza, and urged others to consider making the same choice.
Maximillian Alvarez:
I spoke with two members of No Azure for Apartheid outside the Ignite conference to learn more about their protests and demands. They described recent developments, including pressure on Microsoft that led to the company restricting certain services to an Israeli military unit, and explained why they continue to press for broader changes.
Patrick Fort:
Patrick identified himself as a senior software engineer who left Microsoft that day. He said his disruption was intended to show other workers that they do not have to accept involvement in actions they consider unjust, and to prioritize human rights over corporate compensation. He described his action as part of a broader effort to oppose what he characterized as connected forms of state violence and called for an end to the harm being done in Gaza. He expressed support for Palestinian rights and urged pursuit of a peaceful resolution.
Hossam Nasr:
Hossam explained that No Azure for Apartheid is a worker-led group of current and former Microsoft employees demanding an end to Microsoft’s alleged complicity in what they describe as apartheid and widespread violence in Palestine. He noted that Microsoft recently stopped selling certain cloud and AI services to a specific Israeli military unit, but said this partial measure is insufficient. He said the group will continue to escalate protests in offices and public spaces, and invited Microsoft employees to join their organizing. He characterized Microsoft as providing digital tools used by the Israeli military and called for the company to end all relevant contracts until the group’s demands are met.