London City Hall, 21st June 2023
Members of London CAAT handed in a 450+ signature petition at City Hall on 21st June. The petition calls for the Mayor of London and Transport for London to end BAE Systems advertising deal with London Underground, and to end all other involvement with arms companies. Many of the signatures were collected from travellers passing through Westminster station, where the company has a long running advertisement.
BAE Systems has been a major supplier to the Saudi regime fighting the war in Yemen, and the weapons sold (over £23 billion worth) have been connected to the bombing of schools, hospitals, homes and factories. Over 3770,000 people have died as a result of the conflict, with some 8,000 killed directly in the bombing.
Natasha from London CAAT who started the petition said, “I found myself noticing that there was this horrific advertisement for BAE Systems on the Underground and just thought it was particularly outrageous that in a public space, that is supposed to be publicly owned and for the public there’s marketing for an arms company that is involved in countless human rights abuses across the globe. I felt like it was necessary for us to speak out and do something about it! I don’t think the Underground should be a space for them to be promoting their propaganda”
Ian from London CAAT agrees, “This advertisement is aimed at politicians, to promote their deadly wares and to give them better favours from the Government. BAE are responsible for mass death globally, particularly at the moment in the war in Yemen. They are a massive supplier of weapons to the Saudi Arabian led coalition who have carried out heinous attacks on schools, and hospitals, and educational facilities. This company should be nowhere near the Tube system.”
Although the petition has closed, you can still email your support for ending BAE Systems ads on the Tube to Sadiq Khan, Mayor of London, [email protected]
To find out more about London CAAT and join its campaigning, you can email [email protected]. The group has meetings on the third Tuesday of every month, usually on Zoom. More via London Campaign Against Arms Trade website.
