Hundreds of protesters go to weapons factory calling to 'stop arming Israel'
Hundreds of trade unionists under the banner "Workers for a Free Palestine" have blockaded weapons manufacturer BAE Systems' factory in Kent in protest over the Israel-Gaza war.
Activists descended on the site in Chatham, Rochester at about 7am on Friday and moved to block its entrances. One group are clutching a banner which says "stop arming Israel" and some chanted "from the river to the sea, Palestine will be free".
An organiser said that more than 400 trade unionists are involved in the action at the site, which they claim provides components for military aircraft being used in the bombardment of Gaza.
They said the group includes health workers, teachers, hospitality workers, academics, artists and more who are members of trade unions such as Unite, Unison, GMB, the NEU, the BMA, UCU, BECTU and BFAWU.
The blockade has been organised as part of an "international day of action" called by Palestinian trade unions to "end complicity in Israel's war crimes".
A woman holds up a placard calling for a ceasefire (AFP via Getty Images)Participants are calling for "an end to the UK Government's complicity in war crimes being committed in Palestine, by ending arms sales to Israel and supporting an immediate ceasefire".
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A teacher says she is taking part in the blockade at BAE Systems' factory in Kent because of the "utterly heartbreaking" bombing of schools in Gaza.
Alexandra, a teacher and National Education Union member taking part in Friday's blockade in Chatham, Rochester said in a statement: "I'm joining the blockade today because as a teacher and trade unionist it's impossible to stand by and watch as our government supports Israel's genocidal assault on Gaza, including with arms from this very factory. As a teacher, seeing 185 schools and other educational institutions in Gaza bombed is utterly heartbreaking.
Teachers were among the trade unionists at the demonstration (PA)"If our government and the Labour opposition won't support a ceasefire, as workers we will continue to take action to stop the slaughter of civilians in our name, funded by our taxes. The British arms industry, which is subsidised by public money, is involved in the mass killing of Palestinians.
"We're here today to disrupt the Israeli war machine and take a stand against our Government's complicity and we urge workers across the UK to take similar action in their workplaces and communities."
Demonstrators blockade the entrance to BAE System's factory (AFP via Getty Images)Protesters are clutching Palestinian flags and signs which say "free Palestine", "UK is guilty", "end the genocide" and "stop arming Israel's war machine". A member of Workers In Palestine, a coalition of major Palestinian trade unions that is calling for industrial action and civil disobedience to halt the arms trade with Israel, added: "Massive marches send a powerful message but it's equally important to exert targeted pressure on governments and corporations that profit from the arms trade with Israel.
"We salute all trade unionists who took up the call made by the Palestinian trade union movement and acted decisively against complicity, only such clear actions by people of conscience can bring an end to Israel's impunity
Officers are currently hanging back as activists blocking one entrance to the site in Chatham, Rochester, chant slogans such as: "1,2,3,4, occupation no more; 5,6,7,8 Israel is a terrorist state", and: "BAE must be stopped, no more bombs must be dropped".
One activist held up a sign which read: "Taxpayers have blood on their hands".
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