Israel supplying EDO arms factory smashed up

[free spirit]

Newcastle activists join in by blockading the entrance to BAE this morning...

This morning at 7:30 am, a group of local activists blocked the entrance to BAE Systems, in protest against the role of the company in manufacturing weapons and components for the arms trade. BAE, which is based on Scotswood Road in Newcastle Upon Tyne, makes tanks, planes and hundreds of other weapons. It is also playing a crucial role in the current humanitarian crisis in Palestine – this British company supplies parts for the F-16 bombers that are currently being used by the Israeli army to bomb Gaza. As has been widely reported by the media in recent weeks, Israel’s campaign of attacks has consistently targeted civilians, including UN shelter sites.

BAE Systems makes more than £1 million per day from arms manufacturing. While some may argue that this is good for the British economy, the arms industry is in fact heavily subsidised by the British government. This company makes huge profits from supplying the weapons of war all over the world.

This morning, 6 Newcastle-based protesters decided to expose the fact that killing machines are being made in our neighbourhood. 5 protesters lay in front of the main gates in a ‘die-in’ protest, surrounded by ‘blood money’ to represent the incredible ill-gotten gains of BAE Systems. They used arm locks to ensure that they could not be easily moved on by police, and blocked the entrance for more than an hour.

The police were called immediately but the protest continued peacefully and there were no arrests, and although a the driver large truck trying to enter the site did threaten the activists, other staff were supportive.

The activists wanted to draw attention to the British companies who work comfortably in factories such as this, miles away from the atrocities of war, their wallets getting fatter every time another bomb is dropped. They call for an end to the cynical trading of arms and profiteering from death and destruction.

The companies that engage in this murderous business must be closed down in Newcastle, Brighton, where EDO was smashed last weekend, and wherever they leave their dirty finger prints.

[indymedia]

 

[Lost Zoot]

Translation: one protestor got such a nasty kicking off the pigs that they didn't think they'd get away with leaving him or her to bleed quietly in a cell like normal.

no...they gashed their hand and might have to have surgery

 

[Kaka Tim]

FUcking well done to all involved.

Its disturbing/interesting how ofen people who get arrested for criminal damage related to political activism end up on remand.

How the fuck do they justify that? I though remand was only for people who are considered likely to jump bail or present a continued threat to the public.

 

[albionism]

^indeed. but it is not so.

 

[cantsin]

7 people now on remand indefinately as of this afternoon and one bailed to south london where he doesn't live and only allowed back to Brighton to see his solicitor.

The police also raided the house two of the Smash Edo lot live in and took away 14 computers. Luckily the housemates had moved anything of interest so the cops took 14 knackered old 80s computers from the loft (from years of random people living in said property), saving the housemates the job of disposing of them!

Will post prisoner numbers soon if anyone wants to send mail/books etc to those on remand

how the fuck is criminal damage a remand offence ( presume the burglary charges won't stand up ) ????

 

[free spirit]

re remand... it's because they're seen as being a risk of repeat offending I think.

 

[Taxamo Welf]

fucking hell thats a point

i hadn't consuidered how insane them being remand was. jesus. They could be there for months!

 

[free spirit]

yep

Also I'm betting there'll be a serious attempt made at using the same legal tactics against both the activists involved in this action, and other Smash EDO campaigners as they've used successfully against SHAC....

 

[ska invita]

Those currently remanded are in HMP Lewes, 1 Brighton Rd, Lewes, East Sussex, BN7 1EElijah Smith VP77551, wing and cell no a/4 - 20Robert Alford VP7552, f wing Please start sending letters of support to keep there spirits up.

 

[cantsin]

Those currently remanded are in HMP Lewes, 1 Brighton Rd, Lewes, East Sussex, BN7 1EElijah Smith VP77551, wing and cell no a/4 - 20Robert Alford VP7552, f wing Please start sending letters of support to keep there spirits up.

edit

 

[smokedout]

ITT have a facebook group at http://www.facebook.com/group.php?v=wall&gid=19710459196

currently not being monitored, have fun