Name: More than 250 Microsoft employees signed a letter asking the company to end police department contracts
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More than 250 Microsoft employees signed a letter asking the company to end police department contracts

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Two crossed lines that form an 'X'. It indicates a way to close an interaction, or dismiss a notification.An icon in the shape of a person's head and shoulders. It often indicates a user profile.Redeem nowGet the latest tech news &amp; scoops — delivered daily to your inbox.Something is loading.Hundreds of Microsoft employees have signed an internal email asking executives including CEO Satya Nadella to support protests against systemic racism with actions such as ending the company's contracts with police departments, calling for the resignation of Seattle's mayor, and making internal reforms to support employees.The email, , asked Nadella and Microsoft executive Kurt DelBene, who has been leading communication on the company's coronavirus response, to cancel the company's contract with the Seattle Police Department and other police departments, and support the defunding and demilitarization of SPD.In response to a request for comment, Microsoft sent an statement Nadella made prior to the employee email saying the company needs to "do better," but did not commit to any specific actions."As a company, we need to look inside, examine our organization, and do better," he wrote in the statement shared with Business Insider. "I have heard from many employees over the past several days, expressing calls for action, calls for reflection, calls for change. My response is this: Yes. We have to act."The relationship between Microsoft and SPD is not immediately clear, but Microsoft has long partnered with the New York Police Department on a surveillance product called Domain Awareness System, which gathers data from detection devices including cameras and license plate readers to, , provide "NYPD investigators and analysts with a comprehensive view of potential threats and criminal activity."The employees also called on Microsoft to sign a position asking for the resignation of Seattle Mayor Jenny Durkan "for her failure to protect her people and keep police accountable," support , and condemn the use of teargassing, rubber bullets, and flashbanging on peaceful protesters.Internal reforms requested in the email include training management company-wide to expect 50% reduced productivity (in light of coronavirus and the protests), starting a formal four-day work week, and expanding employee matching programs especially to benefit causes like Black Lives Matter and the Northwest Bail Fund.Microsoft has come under fire in the past for its work with law enforcement agencies. In March, immigrant rights groups and &nbsp;as the agency conducted raids during the coronavirus crisis. Nadella has&nbsp;.Microsoft told Business Insider on Friday it had "nothing to share" in response to a request about its relationship with law enforcement agencies such as ICE and police departments, and whether it plans to continue them in light of the national conversation on racial bias in policing.Nadella has recently called on the company to use its position and resources to drive systemic change in light of national protests against policy brutality and systemic racism. He called out Microsoft's work on an initiative it launched in 2019 .Got a tip?&nbsp;Contact Ashley Stewart via email at&nbsp;, message her on Twitter @ashannstew, or send her a secure message through Signal at 425-344-8242.Sign up for notifications from Insider! Stay up to date with what you want to know.Subscribe to push notificationsAn icon in the shape of a lightning bolt.Keep readingTwo crossed lines that form an 'X'. It indicates a way to close an interaction, or dismiss a notification.

Two crossed lines that form an 'X'. It indicates a way to close an interaction, or dismiss a notification.An icon in the shape of a person's head and shoulders. It often indicates a user profile.Redeem nowGet the latest tech news &amp; scoops — delivered daily to your inbox.Something is loading.Hundreds of Microsoft employees have signed an internal email asking executives including CEO Satya Nadella to support protests against systemic racism with actions such as ending the company's contracts with police departments, calling for the resignation of Seattle's mayor, and making internal...

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Ashley Stewart

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More than 250 Microsoft employees signed a letter asking the company to end police department contracts

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