News Brighton
Critical Mass to commemorate the death of Maria Vesco, campaigner who was killed
while cycling to the Carnival Against the Arms Trade, this Friday Meet
at 6pm on Friday 27th June at the Level
The campaigners who were
refused legal aid after blockading EDO on the 5th anniversary of the bombardment
of Iraq have been granted representation after threatening to appeal in the High
court Smash
EDO Press Release
Carnival
Against the Arms TradeOver 600 people marched to the
EDO arms factory and back into central Brighton victorious as protestors defied
police attempts to confine the Carnival to a pen. 
People
from all across the UK gathered on the Level, in Brighton, to show their determination
to shut the weapons factory. They marched and cycled to EDO, where the police
tried to force the protestors in to a pen but the barriers were soon thrown aside
giving the crowd the upper hand. Panicking police hit and pepper sprayed
several people. So far seven arrests have been confirmed including a legal observer.
Only a few staff had stayed to face the music, the rest went home early. After
the point had been made at the factory, protestors marched back into town. The
police failed in their various attempts to control the chaos, although they tipped
over the beautiful pedal-powered 'tank.' Well done to all who refused to
be intimidated by the police aggression. The passion and size of the crowd shows
how we can shut the arms dealers down. link
to indymedia timeline
On
the Verge The Film they Tried to
Ban Download
'On the Verge' Now The new Smash EDO Campaign
Movie is currently on
tour. Police forces around the country have attempted to stop screenings of
the film visiting venues and citing licensing laws to try to get screenings of
the film pulled. Despite the repression the tour is going ahead. Trailer
for 'On the Verge' - The Smash EDO Campaign film For
info about the Carnival Against The Arms Trade, June 4th, Brighton On
the Verge Tour Dates (March/April 08) Download
the full 90min film on bit torrent (900meg, mpg1) click
here Schnews Coverage of the tour: Showstoppers
and Verge on the Road Indymedia
- On the Verge Tour The
Guardian - Steven Morris - A
Misguided Piece of official Hysteria and Hugh Muir in Diary
The Argus - Duke
of York's Cinema forced to Axe Anti War Film, Police
Accused of Film Censorship, Smash
EDO Film Finally Screened ,
Activists Blockade EDO
MBM to mark Fifth Anniversary of the Invasion of Iraq This morning eleven
demonstraters, acting under the banner of Smash EDO, blockaded EDO MBM a weapons
manufacturer in Home Farm Road, Brighton, to mark the fifth anniversary of the
invasion of Iraq. Protesters super glued themselves to one main gate and the pedestrian
gate,others used arm tubes to build a barricade across the second main gate, while
two super-glued themselves to the two fence panels previously used by EDO staff
to gain entrance on previous blockades. See
press release See
Indymedia Report
Activists lock on to delivery
vehicle on Home Farm Road On the morning of 6th march activists
locked on to a delivery van owned by ASAP deliveries which had just made a pick
up from EDO MBM. The action was an attempt to persuade delivery companies to sever
contracts with the arms company. See
Press Release One man was arrested for Obstruction of the Highway. Three
cameras were seized, one fromj an NUJ accredited photojournalist, under Section
19 of the Police and Criminal Evidence Act.
Two Activists
Convicted for Delivery Company Actions A four day court case in Brighton Magistrates
Court ended in one man being convicted for Obstruction of the Highway for allegedly
attempting to lock onto a delivery van during the 2007 Smash EDO Protest Camp.
A woman was convicted for Obstruct Police for allegedly failing to give an officer
her camera. Appeals have been lodged against the convictions.
Students
against EDO blockade Fishersgate again... On Friday 22nd February EDO MBM
Fishersgate was closed down by a group of activist supergluing themselves to the
building Press
Release Indymedia
Report
February 2008 - Month of Action against Companies
working with EDO We are calling on affinity groups around the UK to take
action against Guardian Guards, TNT, DHL and Initial City Link who all provide
services to EDO MBM. We believe if these companies and their employees are
informed of their role and enough pressure is put on them we can stop them delivering
services to the factory and isolate EDO. Guardian Guards is located in
Arundel Road, Worthing - Tel 01903 269999 fax 01903 269998 TNT, DHL and
Initial City Link are nationwide. For the address of the nearest headquarters
to your local area visit these links. TNT Initial
City Link Interlink
Express DHL
Charges Dropped Against Rooftop Protesters The
two people who occupied the roof of EDO MBM Fishersgate in January have had all
charges against them dropped by Sussex Police. They had been charged with criminal
damage to a neighbouring roof. The police now seem unable to prosecute rooftop
demonstrators since the acquittal of two protesters who held a similar action
during the bombing campaign against Lebanon. Press
Release
Students Against EDO rooftop occupation
and Blockade of EDO MBM Fishersgate Students Against EDO shut down EDO
MBM Fishersgate on 23rd January for over five hours. Campaigners occupied the
roof of the factory whil the doors were blocked by activists glued to windows
and entrances. Two people were arrested for criminal damage. Indymedia
Report
Smash EDO Freedom to Protest march lays siege
to Brighton Police Station |Video
| Indymedia
Report | 150 demonstrators and a samba band gathered at Churchill Square
in Brighton today (Sat 19/01/2008) to protest at the heavy handed tactics increasingly
being used by Brighton police against legitimate protest groups. They marched,
to the accompaniment of Rhythms of Resistance, to the local police station where
a noisy protest was held. Police formed a cordon in front of the main reception
area and denied entry to people who attempted to enter the premises to lodge formal
complaints, informing them that the police station was closed. One man was violently
arrested. The protest returned to Churchill Square and continued along Western
Road, stopping occasionally to gather public support. Shortly after a warning
was issued on a loudhailer by Inspector Parr threatening to arrest people for
wilful obstruction of a public highway, (section 137, Highways Act 1980),the police
swapped places with protestors by forming a cordon in the middle of the road,
blocking traffic while people on the demo suddenly found themselves surrounding
a group of kettled police. Violent scenes were provided courtesy of the
forces of law and disorder as it became apparent that the local keystones had
totally lost control of the situation and could only answer non violent civil
action with force. A big hello to sergeant Avery and pc Sean McDonald who win
joint first prize for biggest hissy fit on a protest 2008 after their wonderful
displays of impotent rage. One further arrest was made
ITT
offices targeted in Basingstoke on the Day they buy out EDO Corp Video|
Indymedia Report
and Photos| On 20th December at 13:30 15 activists targeted the ITT
offices in Basingstoke, to protest against the takeover of Brighton arms manufacturer
EDO MBM by the infamous ITT corporation, expected to be completed today. A
large amount of horse manure was dumped at the front gate of the ITT offices and
employees cars were leafleted, informing them of the decision by EDO shareholders
to vote in favour of the takeover, and warning them of the ongoing campaign against
the Brighton based arms manufacturer, which has cost EDO millions of pounds over
the past three years. EDO Corp. announced on 18th December that its shareholders
had voted in favour of the company's acquisition by manufacturing conglomerate
ITT Corp. The deal, worth about $1.4 billion, is expected to be completed today,
20th December. ITT Corp. have an infamous reputation; colluding with fascist
dictatorships from the 1930s onwards, including supplying Hitler with military
equipment throughout WWII, and sponsoring the CIA backed coup in Chile led by
Pinochet. In 2007 the company pleaded guilty to violating US arms controls over
several decades up to the present day. EDO MBM's Brighton offices have have
been the subject of a direct action campaign since 2004. It has cost the company
millions of pounds through court cases, blockades, roof top occupations and sabotage.
EDO manufactures components for missiles which have been used to bomb civilians
in Iraq, Afghanistan, Palestine and Lebanon. A direct action campaign will
continue against ITT with the aim of persuading them not to continue business
at the Brighton site after the takeover. The campaign will continue until the
Brighton offices are shutdown.
EDO Corp shareholders
vote to sell company to ITT Corp See
press release
FREEDOM TO PROTEST CALL TO ACTION -
Thursday 6th - 'Bad Karaoke' outside Brighton Town Hall to protest Council Byelaws
being used against Legitimate protest On Thursday 6th December four anti arms
trade activists are on trial at Brighton Magistrate's Court after being arrested
at a 'Bad Karaoke' noise demo outside EDO MBM, Brighton's very own arms dealers.
One of the four was arrested under Section 235 of the Local Government Act, a
council byelaw designed to deal with noise from drunks in the street. Video
of the original protest On 10am on Thursday morning we are asking for
people to come and show solidarity with the four at Brighton Magistrate's Court,
Edward Street. At 4pm on Thursday 6th we will be singing karaoke outside
Brighton Town Hall to let the council know that their byelaws are being used to
intimidate legitimate protesters.
STOP PRESS - EDO CORP
TO BE TAKEN OVER BY ITT EDO MBM and the rest of EDO Corporation are all
set to sell to ITT. A US corporation who provided weapons to Hitler, Franco and
Pinochet. The final decision will be made at a shareholders
meeting on December 18th. If the sale goes through the future of EDO MBM
in Brighton is far from certain. ITT have not guaranteed to protect employees
jobs and they may want to get rid of some of EDO Corp's trading units. ITT already
have UK sites, operating principally out of their head office in Basingstoke.
So they may decide that to take on another UK site with a history of four years
of direct action protest behind it is too big a risk . This
Could be the end for EDO MBM... During December Smash EDO is
calling on groups around the country to take direct action against targets related
to ITT to persuade them not to continue work at the EDO MBM site in Brighton.
Then on January 19th Smash EDO is calling for a
Smash EDO, Smash ITT, Freedom to Protest March and Critical Mass in Brighton
Court Update: One person was convicted
on Thursaday 22nd November of Breach of Section 5 of the Public Order Act and
fined £250 including costs. Paul Hills, Managing Director of EDO MBM, was
questioned as a prosecuton witness and was asked questions about sales of weapons
for the conflicts in Iraq and Palestine. Notably he confirmed under oath
that EDO MBM and EDO Corp, Manhattan, spent over one milion pounds attempting
to get ann injunction against protesters. The defendant will be appealing.Two
people have now been charged with Aggravated Trespass for a blockade of EDO in
February 2007. A further two people have been charged with Aggravated Trespass
for taking part in a day of action against DSEI exhibtors this Summer. In
October five people were arrested for singing karaoke badly outside EDO MBM. Three
were arrested uder Section 235 of the Local Government Act while two were arrested
for breach of Section 14. The arrests were part of a police crackdown on the Smash
EDO campign which saw seventeen people arrested in two months. The first hearing
in their court case will be Mnday 6th December. Come along and support them at
Brighton Magistrate's Court, Edward St.
Smash EDO Campaign
facing a new crackdown Indymedia
Article
EDO Blockaders charged with 'Conspiracy
to Cause Criminal Damage' Indymedia
Article
10th October 2007: Police arrest five people
at Karaoke Noise Demo: Indymedia
Article
3rd October 2007: Blockade at Home Farm
Road: Indymedia
Article Video
of Paul Hills breaking in to EDO MBM because blockaders have locked the doors
Reports from Protests at Defence Systems International (DSEI)
where EDO were exhibiting: Indymedia
Feature
Smash EDO Action Camp Timeline: Indymedia
Feature Sunday: Site
Taken Monday: Anti
Arms Trade Vigil Tuesday: Rooftop
Occupation at EDO MBM Fishersgate (Press
Release, Video)
, Police Attempt Eviction (Press
Release, Schmovies
Video, Argus
Video) Wednesday: Camp
Continues, Morning
Noise Demo, TNT
Deliveries Action, Afternoon Noise Demo Thursday:
Morning
Noise Demo, Interlink Express Delivery Company Action Friday:
Morning
attempt to breach EDO's Security, Bloody
Die In Blocks the Gates
ATTEMPTED
EVICTION: Smash
EDO Press Release Schnews
Article Schmovie
of the Eviction Argus
Footage of the Eviction
Third anti arms trade Protest
Camp to be held in Wild Park Smash
EDO Press Release
Directions to the Action Camp
Click
Here
Disarm DSEI day of Action Against the Arms
Trade Indymedia
Report
Police Drop Investigation
of 'Curious' EDO Protester Indymedia
Report
Lebanon war blockaders found guilty of aggravated
trespass Smash
EDO Press Release
Activist Arrested for breach
of council byelaw Press
Release
Police drop charges against two protesters
arrested under Section 5 of the Public Order Act Smash
EDO Press Release
Lebanon war Rooftop Protesters
Found Not Guilty! Smash
EDO Press Release Indymedia
Feature Argus
Article Schnews
Report Rough Music
Rant
New video of Smash EDO Noise Demo
click here
Spoof ads for EDO MBM and Guardian security on Rough Music
radio more
A-Infos radio interview on the Smash EDO Campaign
Film featuring Smash EDO on
nationwide release from June 8th EDO MBM's
failed attempts to intimidate us using a High Court Injunction and Sussex Police's
mass arrests come to the Silver Screen at the Duke of Yorks Cinema more
Students blockading EDO MBM, 21st May indymedia
report
Activists disrupting Arms dealers' conference
in London indymedia
report
Indymedia article - 'Campaign on brink
of victory' indymedia
article
'A Seagull stole my defence Sir...'
Blockaders case adjourned indymedia
report
Protester charged with scaring sussex police,
interesting update! Indymedia
report Update
Hundreds of People March though Brighton
to Reaffirm Freedom to Protest more
EDO's (ex)Lawyer slated by Monbiot in the Guardian
more
Smash EDO participate in Right to Protest demo on March 17th
more
EDO Corp Alternative Annual Report Indymedia
Report
Rooftop Protesters in Court
Press
Release
New song by Axis of Arseholes:
Smash EDO more
Sussex Students blockade EDO MBM demanding 'Books not Bombs!'
Press
release Photos
Protestors invade EDO MBM's carpark for a second time indymedia
report
Bad news for EDO Corp.
from Forbes indymedia
report
EDO Corp. poison US drinking water indymedia
report
Angry prostesters invading
EDO's carpark indymedia
report
Anti-Arms trade Campaigners Launch new
Attack Against Factory's Lawyer Press
Release
EDO's fans and Company Car
Trashed Indymedia
Report Disclaimer
Video
of Smash EDO Masquerade
Police refuse to Investigate
Assault on Protester by Guardian Security Press
Release
Victory Masquerade
Press
Release Photos
Blockaders
in Court Press
Release Photos
Police use dodgy Public Order Act Powers again at Noise Demo
see here
50 Students attend Sussex University anti-EDO Meeting
Police use Section 14 Powers at EDO noise
Demo but fail to enforce them see here
EDO Corp in hot water! EDO
announce a dismal 3rd quarter and the end of EDO MBM rugged sytems, one of four
trading units working in Brighton EDO
Corporation Investor Conference Call
80
People attend angry halloween Demonstration at EDO Indymedia
Report
Smash EDO speak at Freedom
to Protest public meeting Press
Release
New
WIKIPEDIA entry on EDO Corp
Blockade of
EDO MBM Managing Director forced to cut hole
in own Fence after protesters completely blockade factory Indy
Report, Video, Press
Release
Smash EDO Protester in Court Press
Release
Report of Smash
EDO march on Brighton Town Hall to demand closure of EDO MBM Open
letter, Indy
Report and Video
Caroline Lucas, Green
MEP, joins Noise Demo to say EDO MBM must close Green
Party Press Release
Day of Action
Planned as EDO MBM Prepares for European
Microwave Conference Info
on planned Day of Action
Rooftop
Occupation of EDO Smash
EDO Press Release BBC
Coverage
Corrupt EDO Director Resigns EDO
Corps's director resigns after sleaze is uncovered more James
M Smith named as top 'War on Terror' profiteer more
Bring the Kids...
EDO shown the Horrors of War On
Wed 19th July activists set up an art installation outside EDO in an attempt to
depict the true horror of war...
Next
Phone Blockade of EDO MBM - Monday 24th July 01273 810500to tell EDO MBM what
you think about profiting from murder. If the switchboard isn't working
call 810 501, 810 502, 810 510, 810 511 etc or send a fax on 810 600 141
to withhold your number (or preferably call from a payphone)
EDO MBM
have declared a loss this year citing legal costs as a contributing factor
- this company is history! See http//www.indymedia.org.uk/regions/ southcoast/2006/04/338977.html
(paste into browser) Total Victory!!! EDO MBM have finally dropped their
claims to a civil injunction and agreed to pay the costs of the litigants in person
| INJUNCTION VICTORY!! The
High Court injunction sought by EDO to prevent protests against them has been
dropped - at a cost to EDO of at least £200,000. For more details click
here and see Schnews'
coverage. |
~
Three videos about the campaign, made by Schnews,
are available here. ~
There are now weekly noise demos outside the factory every Wednesday
from 4 till 6. In recent weeks the police have taken a 'softly softly' approach
to policing by sending along a single 'friendly' copper: PC Sean McDonald. Of
course he is accompanied by the usual Guardian goons including the ubiquitous
Mark Lynch. ~ Charges have
now also been dropped against the person remanded for 5 days in Lewes
Prison last June for filming a security guard while the interim injunction was
in place. This means there are 21 cases where protesters have had charges dropped
or they have been acquitted. There are now only two outstanding cases against
protesters on EDO related demos. ~
Charges have been dropped against 8 people arrested last year
on charges ranging from 'assault police' to 'obstruct highway'. This is fairly
unprecedented, see here for more info. ~
EDO MBM boss Dave Jones has resigned!
Jones was responsible for collaborating with Sussex Police to get the
High Court injunction which has now spectacularly backfired - costing EDO at least
£200,000. For more see Rough
Music.
Older News: ~
Thanks to everyone who turned out for the mass demo on December 10th
- all 250-300 of you! For a video and full report see Indymedia,
and to read the unanimous verdict of Argus readers on the "almost
Orwellian" policing, click here. ~
The Injunction Trial has been adjourned to allow for
an abuse of process hearing regarding the conduct of EDO's legal team. There will
therefore be no demo on the 21st in London. ~
The Attorney General has intervened in the ongoing High Court case to
shield EDO from their responsibility for war crimes (more) ~
The Halloween demo on 31/10 was sizeable and suitably spooky. If EDO
don't like being haunted by ghosts, they should end their complicity in mass murder! ~
New website launched (15/10/05)! Please report any broken links etc to
smashedo@hotmail.com ~
Our PGP Public Key is now available in the contact
section. ~ Brighton and Hove
council passed an amendment to a motion condemning EDO's trade as 'immoral'
and 'unwelcome'. The motion, proposed by Green councillors, had its guts ripped
out by council leader Ken Bodfish and sidekick Don Turner. For more from Indymedia,
click
here.
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