One of many signs at yesterday's rally. Estimates are 130 attended.

Palantir customizes software for ICE to find and detain migrants. So far, very little of Palantir’s work has been in the public view. However, activist pressure has increased because of the conditions in the concentration camps. We only close the camps if we get everyone in supporting roles to pull that support.

A local coalition, Coalition to Close the Concentration Camps — Bay Area, has organized a campaign to get the word out about Palantir’s role in ICE operations. Two weeks ago they had talks with Palantir’s employees, not all of whom know the role Palantir plays in the camps. Word is many of the employees are upset and are talking to Palantir about what can be done.

Last week, the coalition protested outside Palantir’s cafeteria to ask that Palantir not renew their ICE contract, which was set to renew in a month or two. However, Palantir renewed the contract just this past Tuesday — earlier than expected — for $49 million dollars renewable up to 2022.

Brief stop in a busy intersection to discuss the positives of having conversations with Palantir employees

So, yesterday, the Coalition to Close the Concentration Camps — Bay Area held another protest and stepped up their game. This time, we started in front of the Palo Alto, CA office. We then walked through busy downtown in the middle of the street, blocking traffic, to highlight Palantir’s role in the camps.

Lots of folks stepped outside to watch, some took photos or recorded us. For better or worse, you don’t see a lot of actions like this in Palo Alto. The fact that it’s happening right now says something.

Many people came outside to film us going by. I think we made this lady’s day!

After we got back to Palantir’s office, we continued our chants while a small group of people (who had agreed to participate beforehand) got up on ladders and hung signs holding Palantir accountable for complicity on Palantir’s office. They then threw red balloons of fake blood, splattering the signs and nearby windows. Many also wet their hands and left red handprints against the windows. Lastly, they sealed Palantir’s double doors with another sign — effectively closing the office for the day, though we’re pretty sure they knew we were coming and asked their employees to work from home on Friday.

Photodiary of the end result below:

The double doors covered by the protest sign

A sign on the left side of the building. You can barely see some red handprints on the window below.

A sign on the right hand side of the building. In the reflection you see one of three large rental vans that surrounded our rally point, effectively blocking most passing cars from seeing us.

This sign started out clean but got littered with red splotches after the red balloons were thrown against the signs on the side of the building.