24 January 2024 – Published by Samidoun Palestinian Political Prisoner Network
The endorsing individuals and organizations resolutely stand with the Merrimack Three, joining the international call to drop all charges against these courageous young activists. On November 20th, 2023, the Merrimack Police Department of New Hampshire arrested Sophie Ross, Calla Walsh, and Bridget Shergalis for daring to confront the genocidal arms manufacturer Elbit Systems, a cornerstone of the global military-industrial complex.
The Merrimack Three’s direct action called attention to the web of interconnected, profit-motivated systems responsible for maintaining US hegemony across the globe. Demonstrating against this Elbit facility helped to reveal the corporations in our neighborhoods that are directly involved in the ongoing genocide in Gaza. Elbit Systems supplies 85% of the land-based equipment and drones used by the Occupation Forces and further maintains the surveillance technology deployed at the apartheid wall, Gaza border, and military checkpoints. Marketing their weapons as “field-tested” on Palestinians, Elbit built the very weapons used to murder over 30,000 Palestinians since October 2023.
We have witnessed the US empire double down on its investment in the Zionist project, repressing and criminalizing the Palestine solidarity movement in the belly of the beast. The foundational role of political prisoners in the struggle against Zionism and imperialism has emerged from the empire’s reliance on violent repression as a means to quell mass movements and popular resistance. In a desperate attempt to make an example out of the Merrimack Three, the Hillsborough County Superior Court has levied charges of up to 37 years in prison. This draconian demonstration of repression only proves what we already know: the allegiance of the state lies with capitalism and the continuation of global exploitation.
We commend the Merrimack Three, as well as the broader campaign to Shut Elbit Down, for directly challenging war profiteers in the face of immense repression. The state will not deter our commitment to forge a world liberated from the chains of Zionism, capitalism, and imperialism, a world devoid of entities like Elbit. We call on our movement partners to join us in the global campaign to Drop the Charges against the Merrimack Three and to Shut Elbit Down. Sign onto the statement below!
Down with Zionism, Down with Imperialism, Liberation for All!
Drop the Charges Now, Shut Elbit Down!
The More They Try to Silence Us, the Louder We Will Be!
Endorsing Organizations:
National Students for Justice in Palestine (NSJP)
Palestinian Youth Movement
Palestine Solidarity Working Group
Palestinian Feminist Collective (PFC)
Samidoun Palestinian Prisoner Solidarity Network
Within Our Lifetime: United for Palestine
Black Alliance for Peace
Black Alliance for Peace, Solidarity Network
National Lawyers Guild International Committee
National Lawyers Guild Palestine Subcommittee
Palestine Action
CAGE International
US Campaign for Palestinian Rights
U.S. Palestinian Community Network (USPCN)
United National Antiwar Coalition (UNAC)
DSA International Committee
The People’s Forum
CODEPINK
Alliance for Global Justice
Labor for Palestine
Queers in Palestine
International Jewish Antizionist Network IJAN
Jewish Network for Palestine
Black Lives Matter New Hampshire
NH Youth Movement
Upper Valley for Palestine
Palestine Solidarity Coalition – University of New Hampshire
United American Indians of New England (UAINE)
US Campaign for the Academic and Cultural Boycott of Israel
Good Shepherd Collective
Interfaith for Palestine
Christians United for Palestine
The Palestine Pod
DecolonizePalestine.com
Babochki Collective
Freedom Road Socialist Organization
American Student Union
USA-Palestine Mental Health Network
Law Students for a Free Palestine
Adelphi Students for Justice in Palestine
Stony Brook Students for Justice in Palestine
SUNY BDS
CUNY for Palestine
Williams College Students for Justice in Palestine
Palestine Solidarity Alliance of Hunter College
Boston Jericho Movement
NYC Jericho Movement
Maryland2Palestine
NYCars4Palestine
Anti-Imperialist Action Committee
Anti-Imperialist Solidarity
Free Gaza Movement
Michigan General Defense Committee
Midnight Books
Al-Awda NY/NJ: The Palestine Right to Return Coalition
Western New York Peace Center
Berkshire Communists
Berkshires DSA
Boston Boricuas for Liberation
Colorado Palestine Coalition
Young Communist League of Britain
Bruxelles Panthères
Collectif Palestine Vaincra
Mouvement Citoyen Palestine
Solidarity for Palestinian Human Rights McGill
Palestinian and Jewish Unity (PAJU)
Canadian BDS Coalition
Global Peace Alliance BC Society
Calgary Peace Council
Canada Palestine Association
Ontario Palestinian Rights Association
BDS Vancouver/Coast Salish Territories
UBC Social Justice Centre
Just Peace Advocates/Mouvement Pour Une Paix Juste
The DuBois School
The Sunbird Movement
Friends of Socialist China
Center for Counter Hegemonic Studies