April 15th Sees Global Day of Action for Palestine
The Palestinian Movement has been invigorated since October 7th, when a coalition of militant groups including Hamas conducted a counter offensive from Gaza into northern occupied Palestine. This attack, which was organized under the Israeli’s noses prompted a genocidal response from the Israelis.
Since then, people around the world have been searching for a a way for our passion for Palestine to translate into concrete action. Today, a group of revolutionaries around the world may have found the answer. The April 15 Action-Coordinated Blockade for Palestine coalition has called for a global day of action to disrupt the global economy and shut down businesses that profit from the oppression of Palestinians.
This planned global day of action appears to have been a moderate success, with organized actions taking place at major shipping and travel hubs from Australia to California.
The organizers claimed to have plans for action in the following locations:
The first action of the day was in Australia, while it was still April 14th for my readers:
“Activists block the entrance to EOS in Canberra, turning arriving workers around 🇵🇸
Electro Optic Systems (EOS) Defence is an Australian weapons manufacturer with ties to Elbit Systems and is involved in the genocides in Palestine and West Papua. They also have ties to Saudi-led, US-backed aggression on Yemen. No peace on stolen land, no genocide made in Ngunnawal and Ngambri Country.”
Actions soon broke across Australia including blockades of major roads and attempts to prevent workers from entering specific Israeli-affiliated workplaces. The coalition behind the actions has released a statement.
Disruption of Israeli linked Currawong.
Activists occupy roadway in Naarm.
arrests in Australia.
Western Europe:
Activists shut down port in Tarragona
Activists shut down streets in Barcelona
“BREAKING: Palestine Action blockade four entry points into Kent’s Discovery Park, making access to the business estate impossible.
Discovery Park is the base of Elbit’s Instro Precision weapons factory, who make sniper rifle sights for the Israeli army to commit genocide.
As part of the global economic blockade for Palestine, we’ve shut them down!”
London, 8am
“activists blockaded the entrance to @jradamstransport to demand that they stop doing business with the Rafael genocide factory, based at Pearson Engineering in Newcastle.
Whilst preventing a delivery to JR Adams, Andy, a worker from a neighbouring company that share the same yard, threatened to break the jaw of a peaceful protester.”
Dutch activists block a roadway with their bikes.
“Mothers Against Genocide, a self-organised direct action collective, spent the morning at the industrial port of Athens causing disruption to workers and truck drivers. The collective held up business and blocked traffic with a banner which reads “Block the economy, it feeds genocide. Freedom to Palestine!”
The collective left the port entrance, marching along the main road, chanting and passing info-leaflets to people trapped in traffic ✊”
Canada:
Activists in Halifax blockade the road leading to the port where Israeli linked company Zim shipping has it’s offices.
East Coast US:
up state New York: “Pro-Palestine protestors have shut down the westbound Hamilton Fish Newburgh Beacon Bridge as part of an international coordinated economic blockade on Tax Day to compel the U.S. government to divest from the genocide happening in Palestine. Hudson Valley organizers join over 50 cities around the world in disrupting the global economy in response to a call from Gaza to fight for a liberated Palestine.”
flyover states:
San Antonio Texas: Activists target Valero Energy Company. “A15 is a coordinated strike against the economy. Valero was chosen for it’s significant economic contributions to San Antonio, TX. However Valero has blood soaked hands and is deeply entagled with Israel making them an additional reason we chose them as target.
Valero Energy Corporation has been chosen locally because it is the main supplier of military-grade jet fuel (JP-8) to the Israeli military”
“A collective of St. Louis organizers joins A15 Action (@a15actions), a coordinated economic blockade for a free Palestine around the globe, at Boeing Manufacturing Plant 598 in St. Charles. In our own backyard, the economy of St. Louis profits on the genocide of Palestinians — this Boeing facility produces Joint Direct Attack Munitions (JDAM) and GBU-39 Small Diameter bombs — just some of the weaponry the US supplies to Israel.”
West Coast:
Bay Area Residents shut down Golden Gate Bridge
As of now, the morning’s blockades have mostly been cleared away, and arrests have been made in several cities. This is only a few examples of cities where actions occurred. This is a developing story. This was meant to give the reader an idea of the scope of the actions globally. It is a testament to the power of the internet to enable ordinary people to act democratically over vast distances.
Activists in Chicago have put out a call for solidarity, asking people to call for the release of protesters who disrupted O’Hare Airport:
We urge all of our readers to call in, though as of right now the lines appear to be busy!
Many of the blockades set up by protesters took hours to remove, and it is assumed that these groups are planning more disruptive actions as we speak. The goal of these protests is to maximize the economic pain for the rich and powerful who allow the genocide to take place in Gaza.