PRESSURE ON PALANTIR

Denver Anti War Action (DAWA), a local group dedicated to preventing investment in what it describes as “killing technologies,” celebrated a major victory on February 17 — the beginning of the Lunar New Year, ushering in the Year of the Fire Horse, a period traditionally associated with bold progress. Palantir announced that it no longer intends to place its national headquarters in the Cherry Creek Financial Center. DAWA attributes the decision to its extensive organizing efforts over the past few years to make clear to Palantir leadership that Denver residents were not interested in hosting war technologies.

On January 31, DAWA held what organizers described as their largest march to date outside the proposed Cherry Creek location. At a similar event, DAWA leader and spokesperson Julia Swezy stated that the group intended to make it clear to Cherry Creek Financial Center management that “there would be no peace until the community knew they were backing out of the deal they made with Palantir.” Palantir is a data analytics company that contracts with numerous government and military agencies, including U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). The company provides data tools used in identifying individuals for detention. Promotional materials on Palantir’s website advertise four software platforms that “automate operations, from the factory floor to the front lines, achieve AI-driven combat superiority, and autonomously deploy, monitor, and manage software across any environment.”

Critics argue that applications of such technology can expose our community to the risks associated with artificial intelligence, including high error rates, in addition to the cruel anti-human goals of Palantir’s clients. In Denver, residents may be familiar with Palantir’s tools being used to synthesize data from Flock safety cameras, assist in IRS data analysis initiatives associated with the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), and support ImmigrationOS, a system reportedly used by ICE to identify undocumented individuals. DAWA organizers say they are proud of their efforts, which they believe were instrumental in discouraging Palantir’s Colorado expansion. Originally, the company had planned to locate operations in the downtown Tabor Center. In response, DAWA organized multiple sit-ins, marches, and what members described as “militant actions.” On May 15, 2025 — commemorated by Palestinians as Nakba, or “catastrophe”, marking the mass displacement of Palestinians during the 1948 Zionist Invasion— DAWA organized a protest at the Tabor Center, the initial proposed headquarters site. Organizers report that demonstrators entered the building and staged an internal protest opposing the proposal. Following continued activism, Palantir explored relocating to the Cherry Creek Financial Center through a contract with WeWork.

Palantir technology has also been reported to play a role in the Israeli military’s operations in Gaza. Company leadership, including CEO Alex Karp and co-founder Peter Thiel, have publicly discussed partnerships with Israeli defense entities. According to a January 2026 Bloomberg report, negotiations were underway to continue expanding the use of Palantir’s technology in the region. Swezy emphasized that DAWA intends to maintain pressure through rallies, pickets, and other forms of protest if Palantir pursues operations in Denver. “Our actions will reflect theirs,” Swezy said, indicating that continued corporate operations or expansion efforts would be met with organized resistance. As Palantir reconsiders its headquarters plans, DAWA says it is turning its focus toward advocating for legislative restrictions on AI software development companies to prevent the engineering of technologies used for warfare or deportation. As a grassroots organization, Denver Anti War Action is actively recruiting residents who are willing to make political protest a consistent part of civic life. Quoting a foundational principle of Marxist thought, Swezy stated, “The masses of people are the makers of history.”