Sussex police have made over 40 arrests during the three-year campaign against the US-owned bomb component manufacturer EDO MBM, the vast majority of which have resulted in acquittals or charges being dropped. As well as the two activists who had charges against them dropped last week, two protesters who staged a rooftop demo at the EDO MBM factory against Israel's bombardment of Lebanon last year won their court case last month.
Spokeswoman Sarah Johnson said ' Despite Sussex Police repeatedly failing in their attempts to criminalise peaceful protest they continue to target activists who demonstrate against a company on their doorstep responsible for war crimes committed across the globe. We refuse to be intimidated and will continue our campaign against EDO MBM until they shut down.'
For more info call 07875708873 or email smashedopress@yahoo.co.uk
www.smashedo.org.uk
Notes for Journalists
Brighton & Hove is a UN Peace Messenger City
EDO MBM Technologies Ltd are the sole UK subsidiary of huge U.S arms conglomerate EDO Corp, which was once named No. 10 in the Forbes list of 100 fastest growing companies (in 2006 they were in the Forbes top 10 losers list). They supply bomb release mechanisms to the US and UK armed forces amongst others. They supply crucial components for Raytheon's Paveway guided bomb system, widely used in the "Shock and Awe" campaign in Iraq.
EDO MBM makes electrical weapons components for the Israeli military. EDO MBM manufactures components to be incorporated into the Hellfire missile, which the Israeli army has recently used to attack the civilian population of Gaza. They have organised conferences on the development of UCAVs, unmanned aircraft which are widely used in aerial attacks on Gaza. EDO Corporation, of which EDO MBM Brighton is a wholly owned trading unit, has a direct contract with the Israeli armed forces and navy.
People involved in the anti-EDO campaign include, but are not limited to: local residents, the Brighton Quakers, peace activists, anarchists, anti-capitalists, Palestine Solidarity groups, human rights groups, trade unionists, academics and students.
The campaign started in August 2004 with a peace camp. It's avowed aim is to expose EDO MBM and their complicity in war crimes and to remove them from Brighton.
Contact Andrew Beckett or Sarah Johnson For more
Details
Email - smashedopress@yahoo.co.uk, tel 07875708873
http://www.smashedo.org.uk
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