Friends resist Liverpool Electronic Arms Fair
'A number of dictatorships and military-led governments have used and continue to use such military equipment to repress freedoms and human rights.’
Friends in the north are getting ready to resist the Liverpool Electronic Arms Fair (AOC Europe 2021), which is due to take place in the city next week.
Hundreds of protestors have already taken to the streets to campaign against the arms fair which will be held in the city from 11 to 13 October.
Huddersfield Friend Robin Bowles, from Quaker Roots, told the Friend that Liverpool Against the Electronic Arms Fair is organising an early morning protest on Tuesday 12 October. ‘There will be Quakers in attendance – Roots won’t be organising anything though.’
The Stop the Arms Fair network held an event at Liverpool Meeting House last month, preparing for action against the fair.
Fifty-seven Liverpool councillors issued a statement of opposition on 2 August to the arms fair, branding it ‘an insult to communities such as those of Syrian, Palestinian and Yemeni heritage’.
The statement said: ‘The event will bring together many of the biggest global arms companies with government and military officials from across the world. Warplanes, missile systems, drones and the technology behind them will be promoted. A number of dictatorships and military-led governments have used and continue to use such military equipment to repress freedoms and human rights.’
