Guerrilla Nature

The Siege Continues at the Elbit and Thales owned UAV Tactical Systems manufacturing facility on Meridian Way East in Leicester. 

The first week of the protests saw dozens of participants arrested under recently passed public order legislation which means that arrestees can be banned immediately from a county in which they have been charged for an offence. 

This is legislation which some well-informed attendees have asserted must be overturned unless we are satisfied with no longer being permitted to exercise our long-established and previously protected, but now severely diminished, constitutional right to protest. 

Despite having witnessed their fellow rebels being dispossessed of property and physically assaulted, demonstrators have now remained camped outside the factory, which they claim produces parts for drones that are tested on innocent civilians, for almost a month. 

Although there may be fewer attendees at the site now than there were during the first week; although the area outlined by red and white plastic barriers as the “legitimate” protest area has gradually been constricted further and further; and although they have faced something of a backlash from some misinformed members of the public (albeit not as severe as the backlash aimed at police for their transgressions), the occupation at the site persists. Locals are now dubbing it “The Leicester Strip”.

Supporters of the protest are keen to emphasise that accusations of anti-semitism are unjust and unfounded. They insist that their opposition is to apartheid, referencing among other sources an Amnesty International report (reference at end of article), which concludes that this is the appropriate term to describe the humanitarian impact of the ongoing geopolitical turmoil in the region, where the drones made by UAV Tactical Systems are allegedly used to conduct weapons tests on non-military targets. 

Demonstrators at the site have repeatedly stated that the protest, which has been organised in association with Palestine Action and other affiliated groups, is about opposing injustice, imperialism and inhumanity. 

They also cite the very recent prosecution of Tony Greenstein, who is the son of a Rabbi but also an active campaigner and author in favour of Palestine Action. He was  arrested along with five others last week, when police interpreted their preparations to participate in an action. 

Much of the criticism directed at protesters, by those who suggest that they are meddling in affairs which don’t concern them, refers to the long history of dispute over the territory as holy land, as well as the decision by Imperial powers to partition the area for reasons which are usually referred to as political. 

When questioned about this, the consistent response from protesters is that that the discussion must not be focussed on political or religious division; but rather on justice, equality and the cessation of suffering. 

Above: the second article, chronologically, written by Guerrilla Nature about The Siege.

Below: The Original article that preceded this one as published by Leicester Muckery, as well as the 100 day update and other related content.

Above: content related to The Siege Part 2

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