NO Azure for Apartheid: workers protest Microsoft Build conference for third year in a row

Over 2-3 June, Microsoft workers with No Azure for Apartheid have led protests and disruptions on land, sea, and air, of the flagship annual Build conference. It’s the third year in a row that they’ve protested Microsoft’s participation in the ongoing genocide against the Palestinian people.

The disruptions protested the sale of cloud and AI technologies to the Israeli military and government to fuel occupation, apartheid, and genocide in Palestine and the war in Iran and Lebanon.

On Tuesday 2 June, the first day of the conference, protesters held a rally and speaker programme starting at 8am Pacific Time, outside of Fort Mason, where the conference was taking place. Participants at the rally chanted and chalked messages calling for a Free Palestine and for Microsoft to cut ties with Israel.

Later, starting at 11am, a plane commissioned by No Azure for Apartheid and Eko Movement began circling above the venue, trailing a banner that read “MSFT powers genocide.” The plane flew for two hours, visible to conference attendees.

A group of protesters reconvened at a public hill adjacent to the venue at 12.30pm, where they hoisted a banner reading “Microsoft powers genocide” and “cut ties with Israel now.” Protesters chanted “Microsoft you can’t hide, we charge you with genocide” and “say it loud, say it clear, Microsoft is a war profiteer.”

On Wednesday 3 June, the second day of the conference, No Azure for Apartheid and community members took to the water in kayaks to once again disrupt the conference. At around 8.15am, protesters in kayaks waved Palestinian flags and were heard throughout the venue chanting “Microsoft have some shame.” The kayaks paddled away starting at 9am, chanting “Microsoft you will learn, in our millions we’ll return!”

Microsoft’s violent security

Consistent with past actions, Microsoft security responded with violence, intimidation, and repression. On 2 June, while holding a banner calling out Microsoft’s crimes overlooking Fort Mason, former Microsoft worker Patrick Fort, who resigned in protest in November 2025 after disrupting the keynote speech at Microsoft’s Ignite conference, was approached then shoved by Microsoft security.

Despite being the ones to assault Patrick, security falsely claimed to police that the protesters initiated physical contact. Patrick was detained following these lies, but was later released after it became clear the security account was false. Protesters then continued hoisting their banner and chanting.

Meanwhile, on 3 June, as former Microsoft worker Abdo Mohamed, who got the sack in October 2024 for organising a vigil for Palestine, was giving a speech on the water, Microsoft attempted to drown him out by raising the volume of the music playing in the outdoor venue.

This did not stop conference attendees from taking notice of the protest on the water, with many capturing photos and videos.

Despite both silencing attempts, workers with No Azure for Apartheid made it clear that no violence or repression will intimidate them or stop them from protesting Microsoft.

Repeated protests against Microsoft Build

Protests targeting Microsoft for its complicity in genocide expanded beyond San Francisco. At Microsoft’s headquarters in Redmond, Washington, street art appeared at the NE 40th St exit off of SR 520 headed east, reading “FREE PALI” and “MSFT: DROP ISRL”.

The recent protests on June 2-3 are the latest in a series of actions spanning two years. Microsoft workers are leading the campaign to pressure Microsoft to cancel its contracts with the Israeli military, including conference disruptions and employee protests.

No Azure for Apartheid is continuing its unrelenting pressure on Microsoft to permanently cut all ties with the Israeli military by protesting Build for the third year in a row.

During last year’s Build, held over four days in Seattle, No Azure for Apartheid organised protests every single day of the conference, including disrupting Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella’s keynote address and holding a march through downtown Seattle to the Seattle Convention Center.

This year, Microsoft has chosen to move Build to San Francisco and shorten the conference to two days.

Featured image via the Canary