The Elbit Factory Shutdown Heard Round The World

This Insta post from yesterday used imagery from the Merrimack protest to invite more resistance to the loathsome Elbit Systems. If you're in Cambridge on Tuesday, why not join in their canvas?

More information has come to light about the successful shutdown on Friday of Israel's Elbit Systems weapons factory in Merrimack, New Hampshire. Multiple people experienced violence at the hands of police, especially bomb squad police who were inexplicably called in for a reported total of 70 cops to deal with seven peaceful protesters blocking the driveway.

My favorite quote from mainstream media coverage is when reporter Steve Cooper says on camera: "Police tell us they had no idea these protesters from Maine were coming to town this morning." My favorite quote from a protester, spoken on camera by Yenni: "We will continue to resist until Palestine is free."

Screenshot from WHDH coverage inside the Merrimack jail facility where some protesters heard police making inappropriate sexual remarks to female-presenting arrestees.

The first cop to arrive on the scene made a huge strategic blunder in terms of his focus in those crucial first moments. He went for the low-hanging fruit of an eighth arrest, a decision that affected the whole rest of the day.

I have now heard medical details of the worst of the injuries inflicted by police, including broken bones and dislocated shoulders. What quickly emerged for me is that the people in the blockade experienced traumatic, painful events over the course of several hours while the others who'd come to observe and support were blocked from knowing anything. The two groups have had to put their heads together after the fact to piece together what actually went down.

I've also now seen a copy of the Merrimack Police Department's press release about our protest. An interesting detail it reveals is that there was already a Merrimack PD officer in the guard booth when protesters arrived at dawn. (Do Merrimack tax payers know about this fascistic deployment?) Neither he nor the Elbit Systems rent-a-cop seemed to be terribly bright because they also both made snap decisions exhibiting poor judgment about responding to protesters' coordination and teamwork.

More mainstream media coverage has emerged also, including some that throw around inaccurate pejorative terms like antisemitic, or focus on the cost to turn out 70 "first responders" (an unnecessary expense in my estimation). I won't share those but I will share that the protest made news worldwide, including a mention sent to me by a supporter in Maine:

Other press hits worth sharing (just don't believe everything you read e.g. chainsaws? really?):

https://www.wcvb.com/article/pro-palestine-protest-elbit-america-facility-merrimack-nh/60278938

https://www.wmtw.com/article/elbit-systems-merrimack-protest-israel-gaza-32224/60283330

https://nhjournal.com/seven-arrested-as-anti-israel-protests-return-to-elbit-facility-in-merrimack/

https://www.unionleader.com/news/crime/merrimack-police-arrest-eight-pro-palestiian-protesters-blocking-the-entrance-and-exit-to-an-israeli/article_0ac91750-e88c-11ee-a30a-ebe5fa9680e1.html

https://patch.com/new-hampshire/merrimack/protestestor-chained-car-several-tires-block-entrance-elbit

Also, coverage from WHDH  was updated to include post arrest interviews with a few of the protesters, including my husband who reminded us of the reasons to shut down Elbit on behalf of Palestinians suffering horribly from Israel's violence (trigger warning: cold blooded murder).

Finally, here's a handy interactive map for those inspired to #ShutElbitDown wherever we find them. 

We are many, and we inspire each other.