Report on the 5-hour Arms Blockade
Of a Critical US-Canada Freight Line
World BEYOND War
TOROTO (April 19, 2024) — On Tuesday April 16th, hundreds of people in Toronto shut down a critical US-Canada freight line for 5 hours demanding a full arms embargo on Israel and an end to the genocide in Gaza.
The Canada-Israel arms trade relies on Canadian rail infrastructure to ship arms to air and sea ports for transfer to Israel, and to ship parts to the US, which are then incorporated into weapons systems like Lockheed Martin’s F-35 fighter jet, before also being exported to Israel.
The Toronto mobilization followed over 50 actions the previous day, Monday April 15, when communities around the world kicked off escalations aimed at blocking the arteries of capitalism and disrupting business as usual in a global economic system that is facilitating Israel’s genocidal campaign on Gaza. The Toronto rail blockade joined rail, port, road, weapons company, and government building shutdowns across the country.
Several hours into the rail disruption in solidarity with Gaza, dozens of cops stormed the protest line and arrested four people, including two Indigenous Land Defenders.
In the hours that followed, Toronto police moved the arrestees around and split them up at two different divisions, a police tactic to make support more difficult. Nearly 24 hours after they were taken in, all were released to waiting community support rallies.
The police and the state are escalating their suppression of dissent, but we will not be silenced or intimidated, and we will continue to take care of each other.
This is now four more people facing charges and legal processes for standing up to genocide in Toronto. Support these four and everyone who has been arrested for standing with Palestinians in this city in the last 6 months by donating to the Toronto Community Justice Fund at www.tcjf.ca
The Toronto rail blockade was covered by every major news outlet including CTV, CBC National and CBC Toronto, Global News, CP24, and CityNews. Check out some of it in the video compilation below, including some helicopter and drone shots.
Protesters Block Road To Shannon Airport,
Call For End To Usage By US Military
World BEYOND War Ireland Chapter
IRELAND (April 19, 2024) — Here’s a report from Pat Flynn at Breaking News Ireland:
People flying from Shannon Airport on Sunday afternoon were forced to leave their vehicles and walk the remaining distance to the terminal after protesters blocked the only access route.
Gardaí and Airport Police used their vehicles to take passengers and airport staff from the location of the protest on the N19 to the airport building almost 2km away.
Organisers described the demonstration as a “major national mobilisation” against the US military’s use of Shannon Airport.
Protesters mounted the action to call for an immediate end to US troops and planes passing through the airport.
Protesters gathered along both sides of the route into the airport, carrying flags and banners and chanting before moving to where Gardaí and Airport Police had gathered to monitor the event.
There, the protesters sat on the road, blocking both lanes of the route leading to the airport.
Vehicles coming to and from the airport were brought to a standstill, resulting in a backlog of traffic around the Shannon Industrail Estate.
Those scheduled to fly from the airport were forced to grab their bags and begin walking towards the terminal, with drivers leaving their vehicles in nearby car parks.
Officers also delivered passengers from the protest site to the terminal so they could make their flights.
The line of vehicles attempting to leave the airport was over a kilometre long, with drivers venting their frustrations using their car horns.
A statement from Shannon Airport posted on X, formerly Twitter, read: “Due to a protest on the N19 approach road to the airport, passengers are advised to allow extra time travelling to the airport this afternoon. Passengers may experience some delays getting to & from Shannon Airport. All flights are operating as per schedule.”
Gardaí later removed protesters from one lane of the route to allow it to be reopened to traffic.
Some demonstrators continued a sit-in on the other lane, but eventually moved, allowing traffic flow to resume as normal.
At 6.30pm on Sunday, the airport released another statement confirming: “The N19 approach road to Shannon Airport is now fully open following a protest earlier this afternoon, all traffic in the area is moving well.”
No arrests were made.
