Peace activists arrested after blocking entry to Israeli military manufacturer in Pennsylvania

A group of 30 activists led a demonstration in Birdsboro, Pennsylvania, using non-violent means to block the entry of Aydin Displays, a subsidiary of the Israeli arms manufacturer, Elbit Systems.

Seven were arrested by police as a result of the demonstration.

The activists, which included Christians, Jews, and Unitarian Universalists, shared with Middle East Eye that they also held a memorial service to commemorate those Palestinians killed in Gaza.

The Memorial Service was organised by local residents under a group called, Eastern Pennsylvania Against the Death Economy.

"Given Aydin's acquisition by Elbit, it is implausible that the LCD displays made here in the community in Birdsboro do not guide weaponry being used as we speak by Israel in Gaza," the group said.

"But even if Aydin were making ice cream cones, they still contribute to Elbit's profits— and Elbit profits from genocide." 

The protest is the latest to take place against a weapons manufacturer in the US since Israel's war in Gaza began in October.

"Over and over again, we have heard military production workers say, 'We don’t make the bombs. We just make the parts'," said Liam Ramsey, an anti-war activist.

"Surely they know that the sum of the components they build add up to whole weapons."