"We're here because we oppose U.S. imperialism and Zionism, and capitalism's entanglement with those things," said James Radek, a member of Denver Communists who showed up to protest with a Palestinian flag and keffiyeh. "All the way here in Denver, we have a software company that's making murder robots to kill Palestinians half a world away."
Palantir has attracted the ire of protesters largely because of contracts with the IDF to provide surveillance software, which is being used in the War in Gaza. Protesters also called out a $30 million contract awarded to Palantir in April by President Donald Trump to create a platform to help ICE track and manage deportations and target certain immigrants.
"Palantir, what they're doing in Palestine and what they're doing with ICE, it should concern all of us, not just morally," explained protester and Denver Communists member Maria Chanan. "What they're doing to Palestinians, ICE has the same thing, so it's only a matter of time before we all have to start doing something to stop it."
According to the Reddit page DenverProtests, a growing online hub for local activism, Denver's Palantir protests date back to 2020, when Palantir relocated to Colorado after moving out of Silicon Valley. The protests stopped in 2021 but picked back up in April, alongside other Palantir protests in the United States. The Denver Palantir protest on Monday took place in solidarity with similar protests in other cities, including in New York, Palo Alto, Seattle and Washington, D.C.
A handful of Palantir protests have taken place in Denver since April, often in front of the Tabor Center at 1200 17th Street, where Palantir has offices. In late May, protesters interrupted a town hall by Democratic Congressman Jason Crow because of his ties to company executives, who were some of his top campaign contributors during his reelection in 2024.
"It's kind of a hard pill to swallow that they're actually Denver-located, that that's their headquarters," said protester Jane Zank. "Out of everything that's going on, Palantir is probably one of the most dangerous aspects."
Another protest, Good Trouble Lives on, is slated for the Capitol on Thursday, July 17, to honor late Congressman John Lewis and denounce President Trump; that event is expected to attract thousands.
About thirty protesters were at the Capitol on Monday. Most of their signs had an X over Palantir's logo, which looks like a circle with an open book under it. (The company is named after the magical seeing stones in The Lord of the Rings books, and its logo depicts the orb used in the movie adaptation.)
Protesters also called out Palantir's co-founders, Peter Thiel and Alex Karp. Thiel was also a co-founder of PayPal alongside Elon Musk, who led Trump's federal workforce downsizing earlier this year, and is criticized for his financial support of far-right politicians, including Trump. Today, Karp is the CEO of Palantir while Thiel is the chairman of the company's board.
During Monday's demonstration at the Capitol, protesters were largely led by a local workers' union organization, General Strike Colorado. Then, following the lead of a pickup truck, they blocked traffic as they marched from the Capitol to the Tabor Center, where they say they were met by police in tactical gear blocking the entrance to the building. Marchers chanted "Outta here, Palantir" and "Palantir, we don't want you fascists here."
While on their way to the Tabor Center, protesters chanted "Alex Karp, you can't hide. We charge you with genocide," while others said, "Peter Thiel, he can't feel. He kills people, that's his deal."
About thirty protesters were at the Capitol on Monday. Most of their signs had an X over Palantir's logo, which looks like a circle with an open book under it. (The company is named after the magical seeing stones in The Lord of the Rings books, and its logo depicts the orb used in the movie adaptation.)
Protesters also called out Palantir's co-founders, Peter Thiel and Alex Karp. Thiel was also a co-founder of PayPal alongside Elon Musk, who led Trump's federal workforce downsizing earlier this year, and is criticized for his financial support of far-right politicians, including Trump. Today, Karp is the CEO of Palantir while Thiel is the chairman of the company's board.
Shortly after protesters circled back to the State Capitol during Monday's march, the pickup leading the march was pulled over and searched by officers.
Bennito L. Kelty
While on their way to the Tabor Center, protesters chanted "Alex Karp, you can't hide. We charge you with genocide," while others said, "Peter Thiel, he can't feel. He kills people, that's his deal."
Towards the end of the protest, Denver police officers pulled over the truck that was leading the march, a blue Honda Ridgeline. Witnesses tell Westword that five to six unmarked law enforcement vehicles and officers in tactical gear appeared after the Ridgeline was pulled over by DPD motorcycles; the unmarked cars and gear-clad officers then blocked off the street and nearby sidewalks while the vehicle was searched.
According to witnesses, one officer smelled a cup found in the car and poured it out during the search. DPD later clarified that the Ridgeline was pulled over for an expired license plate and passengers who were "filling containers that appeared to be similar to a weed sprayer with an unknown liquid." Officers appeared to let the car go after a lengthy search, and DPD confirmed the liquid was not hazardous.
Radek, who organized some of the earlier Palantir protests in Denver, said that although the company is large, it's important to keep showing up so more people know what Palantir is.
"We may not make much of a difference to Palantir today, but we are making a difference in the information war," he said. "They're one fight that has to be fought on multiple fronts. We're swimming against the stream of mainstream media and trying to get the facts out there for people."
Zank, who says she's ashamed her home state hosts Palantir, believes that Colorado residents have an added responsibility to speak out against the company.
"It's worth it to me to come and speak out because how many things have they done wrong?" Zank says. "Wherever they are, it's frightening, but since I'm right here, I think it means that much more for people locally to speak out and let them know there is opposition to what they're doing."
Palantir has not responded to a request for comment.
