Created by: AnonymousUser.<br/>
User 'mara' did: promote at Mon Oct 26 12:37:43 +0000 2009.<br/>truetrue
Carmel Agrexco blockaders in court:<br /><br />On the 26th - 29th October 2009 two women will be put on trial for taking<br />part in a blockade of Carmel Agrexco’ produce warehouse during the Bloody<br />Valentine Week of Action. They are accused of obstructing police officers<br />and assaulting a police officer during the women only action. This is<br />only the second time that people have been brought to court for actions<br />against Carmel Agrexco in over 5 years of sustained direct action at the<br />London depot.<br /><br />The action was taken in solidarity with the Palestinian people on whose<br />land the flowers, fruits and vegetables are grown and harvested. The<br />action came in the aftermath of the 3-week Israeli invasion of Gaza in<br />which more than 1,400 Palestinians were killed. Carmel-Agrexco is the<br />Israeli national exporter of fruit and vegetables and imports large<br />quantities of goods from illegal Israeli settlements on occupied<br />Palestinian land. As feminists and as Palestinian solidarity activists,<br />the women blockading Agrexco aimed to challenge the oppression of<br />Palestinians by targeting a tool of the occupation.<br /><br />According to a statement the activists released prior to their trial:<br />Carmel Agrexco directly profits from the Israeli occupation, which<br />colonises Palestine. These goods are grown in the rich soils of the<br />Jordan Valley where the indigenous people are prevented from building<br />houses, schools, accessing water. Palestinians, including many children,<br />work and are exploited in Agrexco-owned settlement packing houses. The<br />sale and distribution of goods produced in settlements must be resisted in<br />the countries which receive them as exports. The UK is the most important<br />export market for Agrexco and so we think that challenging and disrupting<br />their business here is important.<br /><br />During previous direct actions the police have been reluctant to arrest<br />any protestors – even when they have invaded the warehouses, destroyed<br />goods and locked on to the gates for over 10 hours. Evidence strongly<br />suggests that this is a result of collusion between Agrexco and the local<br />police. In the first (and until now, only) trial of direct action<br />activists at the depot in 2006, the case collapsed after evidence of<br />Carmel-Agrexco's dealings with illegal settlements was disclosed. The<br />charges were dropped and subsequent actions no longer lead to court cases.<br /><br />This action, undeniably feminist in spirit, has resulted in the first<br />people being brought to trial for activities against Agrexco since 2006.<br />The systematic and entrenched sexism we know exists within the police<br />force was clearly reflected in the misogynistic comments and treatment<br />these women received during the action. In this gendered context, we ask<br />ourselves why the police and CPS have decided to try this case, rather<br />than the 30+ others preceding it<br /><br />This case is crucial in the continuing campaign against Carmel Agrexco.<br />Please spread the word about the trial, post the defendants’ statement<br />widely and take action against Carmel Agrexco.<br /><br />For more information about Carmel Agrexco see:<br /><a href="http://www.bigcampaign.org/">http://www.bigcampaign.org/</a><br /><br />For more information about the trial contact:<br /><br /><a href="https://swift.riseup.net/sm/src/compose.php?send_to=ellie.schling%40googlemail.com">ellie.schling@googlemail.com</a><br />
2009-10-26T11:10:01+00:002653promotedanarchafeministPlease forward widely *<br /><br />Carmel Agrexo Blockaders in Court2009-11-02T16:28:02+00:00