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A crowd of several hundred people gathered in front of Chase Bank’s Harvard Square store in Cambridge on Saturday morning to protest Chase Bank’s investment in Elbit Systems, the Israeli Defense Force’s main weapons manufacturer.
Sponsored by Boston Chapter Boycotts, divestments and sanctions, The demonstration was part of a campaign to criticize Elbit Systems, which supplies weapons to Israel. according to it, WebsiteBDS is a Palestinian-led global movement aligned with trade unions around the world that “challenges international support for Israeli apartheid and settler colonialism.”
BDS organizers distributed flyers urging the public to close their Chase Bank accounts and sign the BDS petition. petition Elbit’s American subsidiary has requested that it withdraw from the city of Cambridge.
“The occupation of Palestine under the apartheid regime is unjust,” said EJ Sawyer, media representative for BDS Boston, who participated in the protest. “And companies like Elbit Systems, Raytheon, and Lockheed Martin profit from selling weapons to Israel.”
Fort Worth, Texas-based Elbit Systems of America is a subsidiary of Israel-based Elbit Systems, a leading provider to the Israeli military. Elbit said he had increased supplies to the Israeli military since the Oct. 7 attack on Israel by Hamas. Reuters.
us company It was opened Moved to Cambridge in December 2021.
This is not the first time protests against Elbit have taken place in Cambridge since the war began. Just last month, Protesters gathered in front of City Hall Demand that weapons manufacturers leave the city. Police said nine people were arrested during a previous demonstration against Elbit in October, when protesters vandalized buildings and attacked police. Cambridge police revealed Since then, they have been preparing and providing resources in preparation for an increase in protests.
“Everyone should come out here and fight for the liberation of Palestine and try to force corporations like Chase Bank to retreat from apartheid and occupation,” Sawyer said.
During the demonstration, volunteers handed out gloves, hats, cough medicine and hand warmers.
“There are families dying under the rubble,” said Karin Powers, one of the many protesters who took part in Saturday’s demonstration. “We are desperately searching for the children who cannot survive.” “Terrorism did not start on October 7th.”
A portion of John F. Kennedy Street was closed during the protest, where crowds walked in circles chanting phrases such as “Take back the land.” When do you want it? now! ” and “Shut down Elbit.”
Another participant at Saturday’s rally, Willa Bandler of Walpole, said in an interview with the Beacon, “I think our financial institutions should take the initiative to make sure they don’t make money by killing people.” Told.
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