- Palestine Action activist Yogi Bear has been released on bail from their detention in HMP Folston Hall, after being remanded to prison on June 17th
- Detention followed their involvement in the occupation of the Arconic Factory in Kitts Green, Birmingham
- Arconic were occupied by Palestine Action on the 4th anniversary of the Grenfell Tower fire, in which their highly flammable cladding contributed to the deaths of 72 people – while Arconic also manufacture materials for Israel’s fighter jets and military helicopters, used to massacre Gazans
On Friday 23rd July, after a 37 day hunger strike during detention in HMP Folston Hall, Yogi Bear has been released. The activist, who took part in the June occupation of the Arconic factory in Kitts Green, Birmingham, was remanded to prison on the 17th of June and declared a hunger strike until 4 demands relating to British complicity in Israel’s war crimes were met:
- Immediate release of Palestine Action prisoners.
- Lasalle Investment Management evict Elbit Systems from 77 Kingsway London.
- The British Government to release all correspondence and/or documents between the government or any arm of the state (Police Force, MOD, Border Force, or any other government department) and Elbit Systems or any of their subsidiaries.
- Elbit Systems to shut down UK operations.
The arrest followed Palestine Action’s #GrenfellToGaza campaign, taking direct action against the firm Arconic. Arconic supplied the highly flammable cladding which contributed to the corporate manslaughter of 72 people in the Grenfell Tower fire, as well as manufacturing materials used to build Israel’s F32 fighter jets and Apache helicopters, both of which have been used extensively in military operations against civilians in Gaza.
Following previous denials of bail requests, Yogi Bear was granted bail today conditional only on remaining in one fixed abode. They are now ending their hunger strike. Palestine Action supporters sent hundreds of messages to Yogi during their detention, with Yogi stating:
“It’s amazing to have such support, but what I really want is for more people to be inspired and take action. This is not about me, I’m not doing this to be known, I’m doing this because we’re out of time, we have to step up now”
Palestine Action
Palestine Action is a direct-action network of groups and individuals formed with the mandate of taking direct action against firms complicit in the ongoing repression of Palestinians. Palestine Action use direct action shut down manufactuing hubs for these companies, halt their operations, and are calling for the British government to end its complicity in Israeli apartheid.
Arconic
Arconic’s involvement in supplying the Israeli military: https://www.thecanary.co/uk/analysis/2018/12/10/the-grenfell-cladding-company-is-also-profiting-from-arms-sales/
Arconic executive admits knowledge of unsafe cladding before sales: https://www.thecanary.co/uk/analysis/2018/12/10/the-grenfell-cladding-company-is-also-profiting-from-arms-sales/
Coverage of the Arconic occupation:
https://morningstaronline.co.uk/article/b/protest-shuts-down-grenfell-firms-factory
https://www.middleeasteye.net/news/israel-palestine-uk-arconic-activists-storm-factory
https://www.birminghammail.co.uk/news/midlands-news/palestine-protesters-roof-arconic-site-20808743