Palestine Action US is the United States branch of Palestine Action, a pro-Palestinian protest network targeting Israeli weapons manufacturers. Its earliest known activities began in February 2023, and it began protests in October following the outbreak of the 2023 Israel–Hamas war. The group, along with its United Kingdom counterpart, has primarily led a global campaign against Israel-based defense electronics company Elbit Systems.[1][2]
| Formation | 2023 |
|---|---|
| Type | Activist group |
| Purpose | Targeting Elbit Systems Palestinian liberation |
Region | United States |
Parent organization | Palestine Action |
Background edit
Palestine Action is a United Kingdom-based protest movement funded in 2020 when members targeted the UK headquarters of Elbit.[3] The group mobilized during the 2021 Israel–Palestine crisis and carried out protests since.[4]
Activities edit
The network's earliest known activities began in May 2023, when the group supported an event in the US House about the Nakba.[5]
On October 12, activists from the group attempted to shut down an Elbit office in Cambridge, Massachusetts, according to Mondoweiss.[6]
On October 20, activists in Pittsfield, Massachusetts, protested General Dynamics. General Dynamics did not respond to questions about its involvement in the war, but said it supported activists' rights to protest.[7]
On October 25, activists protested Elbit at the Wentworth Institute of Technology.[2]
On October 30, activists vandalized and protested the Boston office of Elbit, claiming they shut it down. The group claimed 9 arrests were made by the Cambridge police.[1][2]
On November 6, activists vandalized the Virginia office of Elbit.[8]
On November 17, activists blocked entrances to BNY Mellon, targeted for its investments in Elbit. The NYPD broke up the protests and took 20 people into custody.[9]
On November 20, activists vandalized and blocked an Elbit office in Merrimack, New Hampshire. They occupied the roof of the building and were arrested.[10][11][12] They were arraigned the following day and condemned by both parties.[13][14] The network claimed on X, formerly Twitter, that one was released and the other two had bail set at $20,000.[15]
References edit
- ^ a b McHardy, Martha. "Pro-Palestine activists claim to have shut down Boston arms company that supplies Israel". independent.co.uk. The Independent. Retrieved 22 November 2023.
- ^ a b c Park, Andy. "Pro-Palestine activists around the world protest Israeli weapons manufacturer Elbit Systems". honisoit.com. Honi Soit. Retrieved 22 November 2023.
- ^ "Israeli arms company in London is targeted as activists launch Palestine Action network | The Canary". www.thecanary.co. Retrieved 27 May 2021.
- ^ Bedford, Corey (2021-05-24). "Palestine Action breaks into drone factory during protest". LeicestershireLive.
- ^ Gans, Jared. "McCarthy attempts to block Tlaib's event marking 'catastrophe' of Israel's establishment". thehill.com. The Hill. Retrieved 22 November 2023.
- ^ Arria, Michael. "The Shift: Boston activists attempt to shut down Israeli weapons supplier". mondoweiss.net. Mondoweiss. Retrieved 22 November 2023.
- ^ Bellow, Heather. "Activists protest General Dynamics in Pittsfield over defense contracts and the Israel-Hamas war". berkshireeagle.com. Berkshire Eagle. Retrieved 22 November 2023.
- ^ "Offices of Israeli Defense Company Vandalized in Virginia". finance.yahoo.com. Yahoo! Finance. Retrieved 22 November 2023.
- ^ Fabbro, Rocio. "Around 20 Pro-Palestine Protesters Taken Into Custody Outside of BNY Mellon Headquarters". themessanger.com. The Messenger. Archived from the original on November 17, 2023. Retrieved 22 November 2023.
- ^ Staton, Jamie. "3 arrested after paint poured on Merrimack facility of Israel-based defense electronics company". wmur.com. WMUR. Retrieved 22 November 2023.
- ^ Hroncich, Maggie. "Child Disney Star Among Three Protesters Arrested for Vandalizing Israeli Defense Company". nysun.com. The New York Sun. Retrieved 22 November 2023.
- ^ Fortier, Marc. "3 arrested following pro-Palestine protest at Elbit Systems in NH". nbcboston.com. NBC Boston. Retrieved 22 November 2023.
- ^ Porter, Steven. "Vandals arraigned on riot charges after disrupting Israeli-owned Elbit Systems in Merrimack, N.H." bostonglobe.com. Boston Globe. Retrieved 22 November 2023.
- ^ Graham, Michael. "Attack on Israeli-Owned Business in Merrimack Denounced by Both Parties". nhjournal.com. Retrieved 22 November 2023.
- ^ "🚨Bridget is free.🚨 -Calla and Sophie had bail set at $20k each, and New Hampshire requires cash only. -That money is ready and available from bail support. Comrades are figuring out how to get it into cash. They will be free ASAP!!!". x.com. Palestine Action US. Retrieved 22 November 2023.