Palestine activists oppose arming Israel

Palestine activists to launch ‘football and hip hop blockades’ against global arms fair

Palestine solidarity activists are planning to use mass football games and live music to prevent deliveries of weapons for the world’s biggest arms fair.

Launching a week of action [1] with a Stop Arming Israel day on September 4^th from 10am until 8.30pm, organisers London Palestine Action expect hundreds to join a series of direct actions and workshops designed to prevent the set-up of the biennial Defence and Security Equipment International (DSEI) in Custom House, East London.

A mobile stage will host a DJ set by Faithless member Dave Randall, Palestinian hip hop artists from Katibe 5, punk queen Efa Supertramp and the live debut of Some F*cking People [2] the band which recently covered Radiohead’s ‘Creep’ to critical acclaim. [3]

A mass football game with ‘massive balls’ aims to ‘use the beautiful game against ugly apartheid’. [4] A mobile and human-worn representation of Israel’s apartheid wall is also ready to form up at short notice say London Palestine Action.

“Our day of action focuses on the UK-Israeli arms trade, but the whole week will see us protest against militarisation, and for the collective liberation of all peoples enduring apartheid, occupation and the unaccountability of governments around the world, which should stop arming regimes – of which Israel is a key example – immediately,” said Leila White of London Palestine Action.

As Israel showcases its deadly weaponry in East London, it will simultaneously attempt to deflect attention with a cultural-propaganda festival ‘TLVinLDN’. [5] The Roundhouse, Cadogan Hall and The Coronet will hold events attempting to present a prettier face to Israeli occupation and apartheid. Leila White of London Palestine Action said, “Israeli government-sponsored arts events show perfectly why we call for both a two-way arms embargo and a cultural boycott of Israel until it complies with international law in relation to Palestinian rights”.

For more information: [email protected] @londonpalestine

[1] Stop The Arms Fair https://www.stopthearmsfair.org.uk/ and https://www.facebook.com/events/250690978765119/

[2] https://www.facebook.com/events/101642517239349/

[3] https://twitter.com/ajplus/status/892220228167360514 and https://twitter.com/paulmasonnews/status/887317749139206144

[4] Football Against Apartheid https://www.facebook.com/events/124294461529574/

[5] http://www.roundhouse.org.uk/whats-on/2017/tlv-in-ldn-festival/

Full programme of events on September 4^th

10.00 Arrive! ‘Why are we here? An introduction to the issues & groups present.’
11.00 Workshop: Social cleansing and colonialism: Custom House to Palestine
11.30 Workshop: Learn to dabke
12.30 Picnic Lunch *please bring food to share!*
13.30 Workshop: Banner making
15.00 ‘Why are we here? An introduction to the issues & groups present.
15.30 Sheffield People’s Tribunal
16.00 Workshop: BDS 101
17.00 Discussion: Why Cultural Boycott?
18.00 FOOTBALL GAME!
19.00-20.30 Live music and DJs featuring…Dave Randall (Faithless), Katiba 5, Some F*cking People & Efa Thomas

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Op-Ed writer, author, radio host, podcaster at The Arab Daily News

Ray Hanania is an award-winning columnist, author & former Chicago City Hall reporter (1977-1992). A veteran who served during the Vietnam War and the recipient of four SPJ Peter Lisagor Awards for column writing, Hanania writes weekly opinion columns on mainstream American & Chicagoland topics for the Southwest News-Herald, Des Plaines Valley News, the Regional News, The Reporter Newspapers, and Suburban Chicagoland.

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