Images available are free to use, with credit to Martin Pope
At Manchesterโs Minshull Street Crown Court today, before Judge Bernadette Baxter, two Palestine Action activists, Adam and Drew, were given suspended sentences for an action over four years ago.
The action took place at Elbitโs Ferranti weapons factory in Oldham, in February 2021, where the gates of the entrance were chained shut, and the building was liberally covered in symbolic blood-red paint, with the words โShut Elbit Downโ sprayed above the entrance. A relentless direct action campaign by Palestine Action eventually led to the factory, which had produced imaging technology for Israelโs killer drone fleet, closing down permenantly in 2022.
Adam and Drew were convicted of criminal damage in December of last year, after the judge ruled out all defences to the charge before their trial even began. Because of this ruling, the activists were unable to introduce any evidence of the Genocide in Gaza, the role of Elbit, Israelโs biggest weapons maker, or any of the reasons which led to them taking action. Refusing to plead โguiltyโ, the pair represented themselves in court, and despite having all their defences denied to them, entered court โas the accusers, not the accused.โ
Giving evidence, Drew explained how โWe had tried all avenues available to us.โ Adam told the court how they arrived at the site before any workers, so as to avoid any harm or inconvenience to them. He said that the damage caused was not reckless, and that they had been careful not to risk injuring anyone.
The Jury were unable to reach a unanimous verdict, but found the activists guilty of criminal damage, by a majority decision, on December 6th 2024.
As with other Palestine Action activists, the prosecution and sentencing of Drew and Adam, takes place at a time when the Israeli state, and their arms manufacturers, are attempting to interfere in the British judicial process, and where terrorist legislation is being abused by the British government.
As Adam and Drew came to court today, they were met by a large crowd of supporters, with Palestine flags and banners. One read: โDrop The Charges, Not The Bombs!โ Over 40 people packed the public gallery, with other supporters outside the court. The two activists were defiant, unrepentant, and in good spirits.
In court, the Prosecution called for terms of imprisonment for the 2 activists, of between 6 and 18 months. The Defence rebutted their arguments, and Drew and Adam received 6 month suspended sentences, with a requirement to do 250 hours unpaid work, and ยฃ750 costs. They left court with their heads held high, to the cheers of waiting supporters. Both Adam and Drew thanked those who had supported them throughout the past 4 years, and delivered a strong message of defiance, and a call for solidarity with the 20 Palestine Action political prisoners currently in jail, and for further action to shut Elbit down.
A Palestine Action spokesperson said: โThe permanent shutting down of Elbitโs Oldham death factory was a major victory in Palestine Actionโs direct action campaign against the Israeli weapons maker. Drew and Adam played a significant part in that victory, and despite being denied all defences by the trial judge, they refused to plead guilty, and stood true to their values, despite the threat of prison. It is Elbit and the politicians complicit in the Gaza Genocide who should have been standing in the dock, not those who risked their liberty to save lives.โ
ENDS
NOTES TO EDITORS
If you would like any further information on Palestine action, please contact media@palestineaction.org
Palestine Action is a direct-action network of groups and individuals formed with the mandate of taking action against the sites of Elbit Systems and other companies complicit in Israeli apartheid, calling for all such sites to be shut down.