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Home | Friday 6th November 2009 | Issue 698

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COURT OF CARMEL-OT

Last week saw the first trial over protests against Israeli produce exporter Carmel Agrexco in three years. Two women were found guilt of obstructing police officers while one was acquitted for assault police. All were arrested at a blockade of the company’s warehouse led by 15 women during the ‘Bloody Valentine Week of Action’ this February (See SchNEWS 666).

Carmel Agrexco, which exports flowers, fruit and vegetables grown in the illegally occupied West Bank, has been a direct action target for over five years. However, there has only been one previous trial, which collapsed after evidence of Carmel Agrexco’s links to illegal settlements was disclosed. The charges were dropped and, despite a consistent campaign of warehouse invasions, destruction of goods and lock-ons no further cases were brought to trial until this week.

A statement by the defendants said: “This action, undeniably feminist in spirit, has resulted in the first people being brought to trial for activities against Agrexco since 2006. The systematic and entrenched sexism we know exists within the police force was clearly reflected in the misogynistic comments and treatment these women received during the action. In this gendered context, we ask ourselves why the police and CPS have decided to try this case, rather than the 30+ others preceding it.”

* On November 20th there will be a demo against Carmel Agrexco in London.
* See www.bigcampaign.org



 
 

The following comments have been left on this story by other SchNEWS readers...

Added on 7th November 2009 at 20:17 by sandra budak

Beautiful actions.... thank you


Added on 7th November 2009 at 19:20 by Abu Assad

And yet again today!

Today activists from a coalition of Palestine solidarity groups have blockaded the company for the second day. The activists locked themselves to oil drums filled with concrete and positioned themselves to block the two access roads to the depot. Tomorrow we want the business closed again, maximising disruption to Agrexco at a key time, the start of the Israeli Avocado season.

We are calling for a mass demonstration starting tomorrow from 12pm; bring flags, banners, noise, and a strong desire to keep Israeli goods out of our supermarkets. The nearest train station is Hayes and Harlington, which is served from Paddington station. The 11.15 train from Paddington will arrive in time for the demonstration.

A link to the map of the site can be found here:

http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?hl=en&client=firefox-a&rls=org.mozilla:en-GB:official&hs=iTE&q=agrexco%20hayes%20Swallowfield%20Way&um=1&ie=UTF-8&sa=N&tab=wl


10:32

The police decided to ignore their duty of care and moved some of the blockaders, still locked on, thus endangering them and causing great physical pain.

Another protester who tried to stop a lorry entering the depot was arrested.

All the protesters remain there in solidarity with the blockaders.

We ask that people come to the depot at noon tomorrow to demonstrate not only against Carmel Agrexco, but also against police violence.

10:50

The blockade was effective from 5.30am to 9.30am and trucks were turned away from the depot.

At 9.30am one of the lockons was moved out of the way by police and the gate was opened so people unlocked around 10.30am. There were three arrests, two for obstruction of the highway and one for breach of the peace. They have all been taken to West Drayton Police Station ...

Don't forget the public demo tomorrow from 12 noon


Added on 6th November 2009 at 16:03 by Abu Assad

And again today.

At about 6 o'clock this morning a group of London students and international activists, including members of the International Solidarity Movement (ISM), blocked the two gates leading to the depot. The activists seek to raise awareness of the UK's continued role in the purchase of goods produced in Israel's illegal settlements in the West Bank as well as Carmel Agrexco's role in the sustenance of Israel's illegal expansionist activities in Palestine.

The blockaders have urged companies dependent on Carmel Agrexco's supplies, and therefore inconvenienced by this and previous blockades, to seek out new suppliers and, in so doing, show that Carmel Agrexco's continued support for Israel's aggression in Palestine will not be allowed to continue.


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