This press release has been sent to CAAT to publish from campaigners in Brighton.
Two people are locked on in the road blocking workers and delivery vehicles from accessing Paxton Access and L3Harris Release & Integrated Solutions.
Campaigners are blocking the gates into the L3Harris Solutions complex holding banners and signs saying “Paxton and L3Harris are war criminals”, “Stop arming Israel”, “No bombs from Brighton”
L3Harris is the 12th largest arms manufacturer in the world and are making huge profits from Israel’s war on Palestinians. Their bomb release mechanisms are supplied to Lockheed Martin and are used in the F-16 and F-35 fighter jets the Israeli army is currently using in their genocidal assault on the civilian population in Gaza.
Over thirty Palestinian trade unions and professional associations have issued a united call to end all complicity and to stop arming Israel. It calls on trade unions in relevant industries:
- To refuse to build weapons destined for Israel.
- To refuse to transport weapons to Israel.
- To pass motions in their trade union to this effect.
- To take action against complicit companies involved in implementing Israel’s brutal and illegal siege, especially if they have contracts with your institution.
- Pressure governments to stop all military trade with Israel, and in the case of the US, funding to it.
Over 34,535 people have been killed in Gaza alone since Oct 7 2023, including more than 13,800 children. The protestors say that Paxton Access, who are next door to L3Harris, are also complicit in this genocide. The technology company own Emblem House on the Home Farm business estate which is home to L3Harris’ Brighton base
After students at Sussex University called a demonstration outside their careers fair on Thursday 25 April, Paxton Access, wrote to the Sussex Friends of Palestine Committee to invite them to meet to discuss their plans for the building. Since then the Stop L3Harris campaign has written to the company and published an Open Letter also asking for a meeting
Brighton and Hove City Council are still seeking legal advice around allowing L3Harris to renew the planning application for an outbuilding on their
One of the protestors taking action who wishes to remain anonymous said:
“Paxton and L3Harris are war criminals, complicit in Israel’s genocidal assault on Palestinians. More children have been killed in Gaza since October 7 than in conflicts worldwide over the past four years. We are absolutely horrified that weapons being used to kill these children and their families are being made in our city, and we are taking action to say we refuse to be complicit in this genocide.
“We have shut down L3Harris and Paxton in solidarity with Palestinians in Palestine, in our city and around the world.
“We implore L3Harris workers join a union and build pressure on their management and help break the kill chain and look for work elsewhere.
“We call on Paxton, L3Harris’ landlords, to give L3Harris an ultimatum, to stop making weapons used to kill men, women and children in other countries otherwise you will evict them.”
Another of the protestors who wishes to remain anonymous said:
“We are deeply frustrated that after months of writing to Brighton and Hove City Councillors about the illegal production line inside L3Harris, they have said and done nothing.”
To speak to spokespeople on the ground please email us [email protected]
