Protestors picketed a Cumbrian firm’s annual general meeting this week.
Palestine solidarity activists from Kendal, Carlisle and Lancaster, gathered outside the AGM of James Cropper in Burneside, near Kendal, yesterday.
They called on the company to end its contract to supply materials used to make Israel’s war planes.
Its advanced materials division makes technical fibre products used in F-35s.
Eighteen activists who hold shares in the company attended the meeting, to ask questions of the company’s board and management, while dozens more activists protested outside.
At the start of the meeting, activist shareholder, the Rev Lynn Treneary from Heysham, read a statement received from a family in Gaza.
Fiona Goldie, of Carlisle, reminded the meeting that, during the past 12 months when Croppers has continued to provide material for Israel’s F-35s, the situation in Gaza has become ever more catastrophic, and that even today Israel was attacking Gaza City with F-35s. She asked whether the board was still happy that they had enabled this.
Amy Hield, of Kendal, after the meeting said: “The chair and CEO suggested that Croppers is not thriving financially and that the military sales are what is keeping the company afloat.
“Obviously, we want to see James Cropper thrive as a local industry and understand that diversification is necessary for success. However the choice of diversification into materials for war planes is high risk for the company and its employees.
“It exposes the company and its employees, both to loss of reputation and a risk of litigation. The board needs to acknowledge these risks and plan a transition towards a company whose employees can feel proud to work for.”
Protestors said: “After five questions had been asked, the board prevented other shareholders from asking questions. In response, some left their questions in writing with the chair and left the meeting, while shareholder David Heller began to recite Mordechai Vanunu’s poem, I’m Your Spy. When he refused to stop, he was carried out of the building by security personnel.”
Campaigners are now planning further action to highlight James Cropper’s involvement with the F-35, including a walk from Kendal to Burneside on Saturday October 18.
