Activists from Palestine Action occupied the Manchester offices of Bank of New York (BNY) Mellon, which invests over £10million in Israel’s biggest weapons firm, Elbit Systems. The front of the offices were covered in red paint whilst two activists occupied the top of the front doors and another two attached themselves to lock on devices to block the car park entrance. A tip off confirmed Joanne Cash, a senior New York executive of the bank, planned to visit the offices that day.

Joanne Cash is the Head of Control Management for Operations and Services at BNY Mellon, who invest over £10million in Israel’s biggest weapons firm, Elbit Systems. Repeated protests and actions have taken place at the bank’s premises in both New York and Manchester, in a sustained bid to pressure the bank to stop funding genocide. Due to ongoing pressure from Manchester activists, BNY Mellon cancelled a recruitment event.

Elbit Systems provide 85% of Israel’s military drone fleet and land-based equipment, as well as bombs, missiles and other weaponry. The Israeli weapons maker market their weapons as “battle-tested” after they are developed during bombardments on occupied Palestine. Elbit’s CEO Bezalel Machlis explained in a video how crucial Elbit was to the ongoing genocide and how the company has received gratitude by the Israeli military for their lethal services.

Read the full press release on the Palestine Action website:

https://www.palestineaction.org/bny-mellon-manchester

Their trial starts on April 17th 2024 so gather at the court for 09.30am.

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