<div dir="ltr">
<div class="gmail-top-anchor"></div>
<div id="gmail-toolbar" class="gmail-toolbar-container">
</div><div class="gmail-container" lang="en-US" dir="ltr">
<div class="gmail-header gmail-reader-header gmail-reader-show-element">
<a class="gmail-domain gmail-reader-domain" href="https://www.azcentral.com/story/news/local/arizona/2023/11/02/tucson-protesters-block-raytheon-entrance-israel-gaza/71419302007/">azcentral.com</a>
<div class="gmail-domain-border"></div>
<h1 class="gmail-reader-title">Raytheon entrance blocked as Tucson protesters decry 'genocide economy'</h1>
<div class="gmail-credits gmail-reader-credits"></div>
<div class="gmail-meta-data">
<div class="gmail-reader-estimated-time" dir="ltr">November 2, 2023<br></div>
</div>
</div>
<hr>
<div class="gmail-content">
<div class="gmail-moz-reader-content gmail-reader-show-element"><div id="gmail-readability-page-1" class="gmail-page"><div><p>A
coalition representing "progressive Jewish anti-Zionist" and
pro-Palestine organizations on Thursday staged a "die-in," blocking the
entrance of Raytheon's Tucson office on Aeropark Boulevard.</p><p>The
initial action featured about 60 protesters, clad in black with masks
covering their faces and signs with messages decrying "genocide in
Gaza." They chanted "free Palestine" before lying down on the pavement.</p><p>Over
the course of the first 20 minutes, The Arizona Republic observed
roughly a dozen vehicles make a U-turn in front of the entrance being
blocked by the protesters. Those staging the “die-in” were lying behind a
series of ladders and barricades that they erected, while other
protesters stood in front of it, closer to the road.</p><p>The Republic
observed a close call between a protester standing in front of the
barricades and a driver making a U-turn. A number of other drivers
honked their horns in support.</p><p>Protesters blocked the intersection
until around 9:30 a.m. They sought to disrupt the flow of business.
Police were on the scene, but largely stood back.</p><a href="https://www.azcentral.com/picture-gallery/news/local/arizona/2023/11/02/raytheon-tucson-office-blocked-by-protesters-decrying-gaza-genocide/71421814007/" aria-label="View Gallery - Protesters block defense contractor Raytheon's Tucson office: photos" aria-haspopup="dialog" aria-expanded="false"><img alt="" width="392" height="221" src="https://www.azcentral.com/gcdn/authoring/authoring-images/2023/11/02/PPHX/71421308007-processed-bef-2689531-e-142-dda-701-bec-7-fce-0-fa-9466-eb-3897-fe-054-ca-2-b-09-cd-68927-deb-09-b.jpeg?crop=2419,1361,x0,y181&width=660&height=372&format=pjpg&auto=webp" style="margin-right: 0px;"></a><p>The Thursday protest was organized by the <a href="http://azcentral.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Tucson Coalition for Palestine</a>, <a href="https://www.arizonapalestine.org/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Arizona Palestine Solidarity Alliance</a> and <a href="https://www.jewishvoiceforpeace.org/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Jewish Voice for Peace</a>.
The first two groups express support for Palestinians, while the latter
describes itself as a "grassroots, multiracial, cross-class,
intergenerational movement of U.S. Jews into solidarity with the
Palestinian freedom struggle." The Anti-Defamation League <a href="https://www.adl.org/resources/backgrounder/jewish-voice-peace" target="_blank" rel="noopener">last week labeled it</a> "a radical anti-Israel activist group."</p><p>Raytheon was not immediately available for comment.</p><p>Organizers indicated they targeted Raytheon <a href="https://www.azcommerce.com/a/profiles/ViewProfile/132/Tucson/#:~:text=Raytheon%20Missiles%20%26%20Defense%20is%20the,eight%20times%20the%20national%20average" target="_blank" rel="noopener">because they said it’s the largest private employer in Tucson.</a> They also noted the company held the no. 2 spot in defense revenues in 2022, <a href="https://people.defensenews.com/top-100/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">according to Defense News.</a></p><p>The
"die-in" sought to "send a message that Raytheon cannot continue
business as usual while its weapons are being used for the mass murder
of civilians in Gaza."</p><p>"Here in Tucson, Raytheon is a major
supplier of missiles, bombs, and weapons systems to Israel through
direct contracts and via the U.S. Department of Defense. These weapons
are being used daily to commit war crimes," the groups said in a news
release.</p><p>"Tucson residents will say no to a genocide economy and demand that Raytheon stop profiting from the mass murder of civilians."</p><p>The protest comes as <a href="https://apnews.com/article/israel-hamas-war-gaza-news-11-2-2023-6a398d4aeba979aef24960efc31eb772" target="_blank" rel="noopener">the Associated Press reported</a> Israeli troops advanced toward Gaza City, with the Palestinian death toll rising above 9,000.</p></div></div></div>
</div>
<div>
</div>
<div></div>
</div>
</div>