Culture

Let's support the 19 people arrested at Block the Factory

Team Ecohustler
21st September 2015
2 min read

Targeting Israeli drone manufacturers with non-violent direct action

On 6 July 2015, to commemorate Israel's assault on Gaza last summer which killed over 2,200 Palestinians, we successfully blocked the Elbit-owned factories in Shenstone and Tamworth. Elbit's factories manufacture parts for drones which are exported all over the world. Managing to shut down the factory for a day, in concert with activists around the world who shut down other Elbit locations in Kent and Melbourne, we sent a message to the UK government to stop arming Israel. We showed that we'll target Israeli drone manufacturers with non-violent direct action so long as they make weapons to murder people. Click here to help cover the travel costs of the 19 people arrested at Block the Factory 19 of those involved in the protest at Shenstone were arrested and all have been charged with breaching an injunction which had established a 250 metre ‘exclusion zone’ around the factory. All 19 are pleading Not Guilty and have elected to be tried at Crown court. The next court hearing will be at Stafford crown court on Friday 27th November (NB this is not the trial date). The 19 come from all over the country, from Aberdeen, the North of England, the Midlands, London and the South West. The cost of travelling to court hearings and to meet with their legal team to prepare their defence is considerable. Can you help? We need to support the people who have been arrested and make sure they are supported throughout the court process. Each court hearing is likely to cost around £1,500 in total travel costs for the 19. Please make a small donation to help cover the travel costs of the 19 people arrested at Block the Factory We want to keep this campaign going and raise the cost of doing business with Israel in the UK and abroad, but in doing this we're facing a well-funded and well-organised opponent, who can rely on the help of the British government and major arms companies. With your help, we're confident we can keep our activities funded and accessible, and put some more dents in the Israeli war machine! To keep up to date with this case, and with the continuing campaign against Elbit-owned factories in the UK, check out blockthefactory.org and sign up for the regular updates there.