Protestors have targeted a Shipley defence firm which they claim supplies weapons technology to Israel.
Twice Queen’s Award winners, Teledyne Defence & Space, was targeted as part of a national day of action by protestors aiming to end the supply of arms to Israel. Up to forty demonstrators gathered on the main Shipley to Otley road before they marched through Acorn Business Park to the locked gates of the company. Placards linking the firm to ethnic cleansing and genocide of Palestinians were visible.
Rob Hoveman, a co-facilitator of Bradford Friends of Palestine said: “This is the first of the protests. We are going to hold a whole series and intend to leaflet the workforce, which is about 150 people, in order to let them know why we are here and to seek their support.”
Shipley MP Philip Davies described the firm, which has a US parent company, as world leaders providing well paid jobs and contributing to public services through the taxes they pay. He said: “Teledyne are a fantastic company which I am extremely proud to have in my constituency. Teledyne will always have my full and robust support and I very much hope that the staff at the site are not intimidated in any way by any misguided protestors.”
According to The Campaign Against the Arms Trade Teledyne Defence and Space manufactures components for radar equipment, including for the F35 stealth combat aircraft currently being used in the bombardment of Gaza.
Yorkshire Voice has contacted Teledyne on several occasions for comment and got no response.