14 DAY TRIAL // Microsoft’s shuttles got stuck in the middle of a protest in Seattle’s Capitol Hill neighborhood yesterday, according to reports, as activities were protesting against “tech companies like Microsoft trying to suck out what’s left of Seattle’s soul.”
Carrying banners that read “Gentrification Stops Here,” the protesters blocked Microsoft Connector shuttles for about 45 minutes, GeekWire reports.
The growing tension in Seattle comes as a result of accusations that technology companies and their employees are raising prices in metropolitan areas, with reports pointing to 82 percent price increases on housing and real estate in technology hubs.
Microsoft is yet to release a comment on this, but the company is expected to release some public statements in the coming days, especially as protests are very likely to continue in the coming days.
A sample of the flyers handed out by protesters in Seattle is attached to this article.