Defence & Security Equipment International (DSEI) protests continued yesterday with a full day of action at the ExCeL Centre in London in a show of solidarity with Afghanistan. Phoenix Media Co-operative joined activists on the ground for the second day of the fortnight-long resistance. DSEI is known as one of the world’s largest arms fairs, according to Stop The Arms Fair, a coalition of individuals and groups who joined forces in 2011 to put an end to DSEI and all UK arms fairs.
This is today! Make your way to the east gate of Excel London (2 mins from Prince Regent DLR) for a morning of workshops & an afternoon focused on standing in solidarity with Afghani people #stopDSEI https://t.co/BvOlWqQwwF https://t.co/DbmHduLO7N
— Stop The Arms Fair! (@StopTheArmsFair) September 7, 2021
Quite early on a Leonardo helicopter was brought into the centre, ready to be exhibited. Phoenix Media Co-op joined protesters to condemn this parade, as this type of helicopter is used in Turkey’s shameful attacks on Rojava, utilising NATO’s second largest army. Read more about this humanitarian crisis here.
These attack helicopters were being brought into the #DSEI2021 arms fair ready to be exhibited. Shameful! Leonardo's helicopters are used in Turkey's attacks on the Kurdish Freedom Movement https://t.co/VFr3pD1ix7
— Phoenix Media Co-op (@Phoenix_Coop) September 7, 2021
Just before midday, activists managed to block both entrances to the centre to stop the advance of lorries carrying weapons for sale at the arms fair.
Right now at the Excel Centre, activists have blocked both entrances to the centre, stopping lorries bringing weapons of mass destruction into the centre for sale to human rights abusers. Come down and show your support! #solidaritywithafghanis #FreePalestine #killthebill pic.twitter.com/8K0yhfN3v2
— Stop The Arms Fair! (@StopTheArmsFair) September 7, 2021
Police presence intensified around 1pm when activists successfully locked on to vehicles to block more weapons being delivered to the centre. The West Gate of the ExCeL Centre was fully blocked at this point, while the East Gate was partially blocked.
Several people currently locked on to stop delivery of weapons and machinery to the world’s second largest arms fair at #Excel #StopDSEI pic.twitter.com/xwenZFXeyr
— Phoenix Media Co-op (@Phoenix_Coop) September 7, 2021
On the second day of action against DSEI at the Excel Centre, @stopthearmsfair reports that entrances to the East Gate of one of the world's largest arms fairs has been blocked, while the West Gate has been partially blocked.
Join us today for a full day of action. #stopdsei2021 pic.twitter.com/sdM3dganTj
— Phoenix Media Co-op (@Phoenix_Coop) September 7, 2021
The afternoon continued with Afghani speakers who made powerful statements about military actions in Afghanistan and the UK companies such as BAE Systems and Raytheon who were responsible for the devastating effects on the country. One speaker commented:
“Every bomb dropped saw their profits soar”
He condemned the present UK government for its obsession with military spending, while ignoring the climate emergency. He said:
“Tories have upped defence spending by £16bn while our planet is on fire…let’s keep fighting for peace”.
The second speaker challenged Western imperialism in Afghanistan:
Second speaker challenges Western imperialism and says: “after 40 years of enforced war, we – the people of Afghanistan- are tired… the people don’t want war… The Americans came and did what they wanted to….” #Afghanistan #StopDSEI pic.twitter.com/ryEOvxaYKr
— Phoenix Media Co-op (@Phoenix_Coop) September 7, 2021
Another speaker called on everyone to challenge the arms trade because if we don’t “our silence will contribute to the blood on faces of innocent people“.
Next speaker from #Afghanistan calls on everyone to challenge d the arms trade because if we don’t “our silence will contribute to the blood on faces of innocent people“ #StopDSEI #disarmdsei #stopthearmsfair pic.twitter.com/BAWyPWXVZk
— Phoenix Media Co-op (@Phoenix_Coop) September 7, 2021
An unexpected development occurred just as speeches calling for peace and a stop to the DSEI arms fair continued. The police flanked activists to protect more weapons coming in to the arms fair.
This is what the cops are protecting as speakers here call for peace and share first hand the devastation caused by weapons. This is why we need to #StopDSEI and #stopthearmsfair pic.twitter.com/MBx8tQR6Sg
— Phoenix Media Co-op (@Phoenix_Coop) September 7, 2021
The actions will continue in full swing today, with a focus on demilitarising education.
Stay tuned via our Twitter, Facebook and Instagram pages for more live updates from the ground. We are very grateful to have received some financial support from Stop the Arms Fair in order to report the actions against DSEI from 6 to 17 September.
Main picture via Amber Clay @Pixabay