Resistance against the Defence & Security Equipment International (DSEI) arms fair gathered momentum today, as people tried to block military equipment from being taken into the arms fair.
The theme of the day was demilitarising education. Stop the Arms Fair tweeted:
Our unis play a major role in supporting the arms trade through corporate-military research partnerships, grant funding, sponsorships, recruitment & their investments – so demilitarising our unis is a crucial part of resisting the arms trade #stopDSEI
— Stop The Arms Fair! (@StopTheArmsFair) September 7, 2021
Check out this video from the brilliant @dED_ucation on what the DSEI arms fair is & why it needs to be resisted! #stopDSEI #disarmDSEI https://t.co/wWoE3wp1qI
— Stop The Arms Fair! (@StopTheArmsFair) September 7, 2021
The day began with folks blocking the road at the East Gate with dancing and hula hoops:
Protesters are blocking the east gate of the DSEI arms fair at the #DemilitariseEducation day of action #ShutDownDSEI pic.twitter.com/QSKpFvW56m
— Stop The Arms Fair! (@StopTheArmsFair) September 8, 2021
But hundreds of police were on hand to clear the road and make sure vehicles could get in to set up the fair:
Day 3 #StopDSEI — the UK, doesn't just sell to human rights abusers, it is a human rights abuser —policed by rights abusers in uniforms pic.twitter.com/oEO4RUKini
— Sarah Wilkinson (@swilkinsonbc) September 8, 2021
A truck carrying several armoured military vehicles attempted to enter the ExCeL centre, somehow one of the demonstrators managed to scale the truck and delay it entering the fair:
Morning yoga on a stupid vile death machine.
And they had the absolute cheek to say it was a “peace keeping vehicle”.
Come down to stop the arms fair – Prince Regent Station, by the Excel Centre, LONDON
✊🏿✊🏾✊🏽✊🏼✊🏻 @Pal_action @StopTheArmsFair @xryouthuk @XR_MCR https://t.co/RqB7oMyraw
— miriam (@itsmims_gillan) September 8, 2021
Another amazing lock-on by amazing people fighting for justice and peace in a world of war & bloody profit #StopDSEI #StopArmingIsrael pic.twitter.com/sq3M9SQp11
— Sarah Wilkinson (@swilkinsonbc) September 8, 2021
After the road was cleared, cops lined the pavement to protect the weaponry being brought into ExCeL. This video shows demonstrators calling out the haulage companies who are allowing their vehicles to be used in the setup of the arms fair:
The police continue to intimidate activists and protect war machines being brought in by @KingsTransport #kingshaulage lorries into DSEI to be sold and used in conflict. This is criminal. People over profit. #stopthearmsfair #StopDSEI pic.twitter.com/aZ2xjH9NZL
— Demilitarise Education (@dED_ucation) September 8, 2021
Later on, workshops were held outside the ExCeL’s East Gate on the theme of decolonising education:
Simmone from @nusuk wrapping up the #DemilitariseEducation day of action with a workshop on decolonising education: our education systems should be free, accessible & liberatory #DecoloniseEducation #StopDSEI pic.twitter.com/ZTfeQOw8I7
— Stop The Arms Fair! (@StopTheArmsFair) September 8, 2021
And, as night drew in over the protest camp, the resistance to the arms fair didn’t stop. Protesters erected a tent in the road, blocking access to the East Gate yet again.
#stopDSEI protesters have set up camp for the night blocking the road to the east gate of Excel London to stop the set up of the arms fair https://t.co/7fWoDHtEQE pic.twitter.com/Lg3b3gPAD0
— Stop The Arms Fair! (@StopTheArmsFair) September 8, 2021
Against all the odds, the resistance against the goings on at ExCeL has managed to delay the setup of the arms fair every day this week so far. There are several more days of action planned before DSEI is scheduled to begin, and people are calling for support.
Here’s what’s planned for tomorrow:
Tomorrow is our Migration, Borders and Anti-Racism day. Talks from 11-8 @ the Excel Centre. Come join us to show solidarity and shut down the arms fair! https://t.co/QHAumKMb1Z@JVoiceLabour @ukblm @blmleeds_ @Newham_AR @nobordersmcr @ChannelRescue @MaziHousing pic.twitter.com/3epjK72BL9
— Stop The Arms Fair! (@StopTheArmsFair) September 8, 2021
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.
Featured image supplied to Phoenix Media Co-op, used with permission