2 additional Microsoft employees fired after protesters breached HQ
Aug 28, 2025, 5:05 PM | Updated: 6:34 pm
A Microsoft sign and logo are pictured at the company's headquarters in Redmond. (Photo: Jason Redmond, Associated Press)
(Photo: Jason Redmond, Associated Press)
Two additional Microsoft employees have been fired after protesters breached the company president’s executive office Tuesday at the headquarters in Redmond, according to KIRO 7.
The recent terminations bring the total number of fired employees connected to the protest to four.
“Two additional employees were terminated [Thursday] due to serious violations of established company policies and our code of conduct, including participating in recent on-site demonstrations that created significant safety concerns for our employees,” a Microsoft spokesperson said, KIRO 7 reported.
Fired Microsoft employees speak out
A news conference was held Thursday by the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-WA), the group related to the protest.
“No amount of demonizing protestors will change the reality that Microsoft executives chose to drag this company, its workers, and our community into forming the backbone of genocide and mass murder,” fired Microsoft employee Anna Hattle said.
Fired Microsoft employee Rikki Famel echoed that statement.
“Microsoft has dragged its feet at every opportunity to hold the Israeli military accountable, but has acted with incredible haste in repressing worker sentiment about the issue of Palestine,” Famel said.
Microsoft employee Anna Hattle made it clear she isn’t backing down.
“You can arrest me, drag me off your campus, suspend me, arrest me again, and drag me out of your office again, then fire me, but that will not deter me,” Hattle remarked.
At least two of the fired employees were arrested at Microsoft headquarters following the protest. In total, the Redmond Police Department (RPD) arrested seven people.
“These incidents are inconsistent with the expectations we maintain for our employees. The company is continuing to investigate and is cooperating fully with law enforcement regarding these matters,” a Microsoft spokesperson said, according to KIRO 7.
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Microsoft president responds
Hours after the breach, Microsoft President Brad Smith held a media briefing, saying the company is “working every day to get to the bottom of what’s going on.”
“Microsoft is not a government or country, it’s a company,” he added. “We will do what we can and what we should, and that starts with ensuring our human rights principles are upheld.”
Smith said the group—including two Microsoft employees and one former Google employee—stormed the office, planted listening devices, and wouldn’t leave.
“That’s not OK,” he said.
The building is adapting security accordingly, Smith noted.
He added that the company “values employee feedback” and considers suggestions.
“We respect the freedom of expression as long as they do it lawfully,” Smith shared.
Microsoft protesters move to nearby transit center
RPD spokesperson Jill Green was at the nearby transit center, where others in the group were still demonstrating.
🚨Seven Arrested for Unlawfully Occupying Executive Office at Microsoft 🚨
On August 26 at approximately 1 p.m., Redmond Police officers responded to a report of demonstrators gathered on the sidewalk at the Microsoft campus.
Seven individuals entered a building, barricaded… pic.twitter.com/atcanJX2dj
— RedmondWaPD (@RedmondWaPD) August 26, 2025
“Once we arrived, there were demonstrators that entered the building and went into the president’s executive office, so we were able to go in and make some arrests for the ones who were illegally trespassing,” Green told KIRO Newsradio. “Now there are demonstrators outside the transit center, and we are just watching them, because they’re now on public property.”
Officers cleared the building, but the group livestreamed the event on Twitch.
18 Pro-Palestinian protesters arrested at Microsoft campus
Police arrested 18 pro-Palestinian protesters last week who poured paint on a Microsoft sign and blocked a pedestrian bridge near the company’s campus.
They were demanding Microsoft cut ties with Israel’s military amid its war with Hamas.
This story was originally published on August 26, 2025. It has been updated and republished since then.
Contributing: Aaron Granillo and James Lynch, KIRO Newsradio; KIRO 7
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