Gaza Anti Arms Campaigners to Converge on Brighton Weapons Factory

On Monday January 18th: Hundreds of anti-arms campaigners will converge on EDO MBM/ITT, a Brighton arms manufacturer, to take action on the first anniversary of the final day of Israel's assault on Gaza.

Israel's assault on Gaza, lasting from 27th December 2008 to 18th January 2009, killed 1417 people, over 300 of whom were children. Campaigners maintain that EDO/ITT manufacture components for bombs and bomb racks supplied by the US to Israel.

Smash EDO, have asked activists to meet at the Wild Park Cafe in
Moulsecoomb at 1pm on Monday 18th January. Carrying coffins and wearing black to symbolise the dead, they will march on the factory.

Chloe Marsh, press spokesperson for Smash EDO said “The Remember Gaza demonstration will be a chance to show our disgust at EDO/ITT's complicity in Israel's attacks on the besieged population of Gaza. Thousands of people in Brighton took to the streets in protest during the massacre in January 2009. The fact that in the same town, a company is equipping the Israeli military to commit these atrocities is an outrage”.

Notes for Journalists

For details of how EDO arms the Israeli military see
 http://www.smashedo.org.uk/How%20EDO%20Supplies%20the%20Israeli%20Military.htm EDO MBM, based in Moulsecoomb, is a weapons manufacturer owned by the American multi-national ITT. Based on Home Farm Rd Moulsecoomb, they make weapon components for the Paveway guided bomb programme, which was the most used aerial weapon in the attack on Iraq. They also own the patents of the Zero Retention Force Arming Unit and the Ejector Release Unit ERU 151, both essential components for the F16 aircraft’s VER-2 bomb rack, used by the Israeli Air Force against civilians in Gaza.

Since 2004 there has been a growing campaign against EDO MBM in Brighton. Campaigners have used diverse tactics to highlight and resist this murderous business in our city. There have been blockades, rooftop occupations, street theatre and hundreds of noise demos outside the factory. Thousands of people have also taken to the streets against them during nationally advertised events.
EDO own the patent for the Field Replaceable Connector System (FRCS), a component for the F 16. It was invented by EDO MBM director John Eaton in 2002.

Since 2004 the USA have been delivering over 100 F-16I fighter/bombers to Israel as part of the Peace Marble V arms deal.

Contact: Andrew Beckett or Chloe Marsh, Smash EDO campaign
Tel: 07754135290 E-mail:  smashedopress@riseup.net Website:
www.smashedo.org.uk