New Years Day at Raytheon Rooftop Protest

bristol | peace | news report Saturday January 03, 2009 09:54 by Ed Hill

Third week of protest breaks all records!

Despite the cold weather and the distractions on the January sales, around a dozen people turned out to support the regular Thursday vigil in support of the Raytheon Rooftop Protest.

The rooftop protest at the Raytheon office building in Bristol, now well into it’s third week, has grown stronger with the New Year.

A fourth member has joined the protest, bringing an extra tent to the rooftop which now resembles a campsite!

Plus a tripod and lock-on tubes have been added to resist any attempt to evict the protest.

The protesters are campaigning against Bristol’s involvement in the arms trade and are focusing on Raytheon for breaking International Law by supplying WMD.

A protester said - “If people are shocked at the carnage happening in Gaza right now. They should know that all those weapons are manufactured and sold by companies like Raytheon. That’s why we’re staying put up here to keep the spotlight on the arms industry.”

Another said – “It may be the new year. But we haven't forgotten that it’s business as usual for companies like Raytheon. They’re literally making a killing, last year, this year, and every year!”

Supporters passed up a food and drink on the end of a rope and were even treated to an impromptu firework display.

Vigils will continue on every Thursday and Saturday with transport provided from central Bristol – check the Bristol Indymedia calendar for details.

WHAT YOU CAN DO

The mainstream media is doing it's best to ignore the challenge of this record-busting protest against Bristol's massive arm industry. Please try to get the message out to the rest of the public with posters in windows, talking to friends, local radio phone-ins, using the letters column of local and national newspapers etc etc.