NEWS ALERT: For Immediate Release | Anti-War Committee (AWC)-Chicago

Press contacts: Hatem Abudayyeh, 773.301.4108, hatem@aaan.org;

Joe Iosbaker, 773.301.0109, joeiosbaker@gmail.com

Boeing peace protesters to go to court;

 Vow to continue efforts against Boeing’s complicity with Israel’s murder of Palestinians in Gaza

Boeing Company has become a national target of the BDS movement (Boycott/Divest/Sanction) in the U.S. against U.S. companies aiding the Israeli government. This national trend began when five Chicago activists were arrested at Boeing headquarters on July 16.

Tuesday, August 12, 2:30 PM court date | 3:00 PM press conference 

Circuit Court of Cook County, 2452 W. Belmont, Chicago

Five activists were arrested in an act to expose the Boeing Company’s complicity with Israel on July 16, when they entered the Boeing lobby wearing blood-soaked t-shirts to oppose the company's ongoing provision of weapons to Israel to bomb and shell civilians in Gaza. Chicago police arrested and charged them with trespass, a misdemeanor.

Four of the arrestees will appear on Tuesday at 2:30 in court at 2452 W. Belmont, Chicago. They will hold a press conference directly following the court appearance to discuss the case. 

The protesters include activists with the Anti-War Committee/Chicago, Jewish Voice for Peace, and Students for Justice in Palestine.

Speakers will include the protesters' attorney, Melinda Power, and Hatem Abudayyeh, of the U.S. Palestinian Community Network, one of the Palestinian community leaders of the recent mass marches in Chicago that oppose the Israeli assault on Gaza.

The July 16 Chicago Boeing protest initiated a growing wave of protests against the company around the country opposing Boeing's profiteering from Israeli air strikes on Gaza. Boeing provides fighter jets, bombs and missiles to the Israeli military that have been in steady use on the bombardment of Gaza.  More than 2000 Palestinians have been killed, many due to weapons produced by Boeing. 

Protests against Boeing will continue in Chicago this week. The Anti-War Committee is supporting a protest at the Air and Water Show on August 16th to oppose war and militarism and to demand that Boeing be removed as a sponsor. Joe Scarry of the Chicago Coalition to Shut Down Guantanamo will attend Tuesday's press conference.

Hani Al Safadi, a Chicagoan with family in Gaza, will also speak about the suffering and death experienced by the Palestinian people there.