photo credit of Merchants of Death War Crimes Tribunal
Activists from across the country gathered outside of Raytheon’s office in Arlington, Virginia at 12:00 noon on November 8 to confront the war profiteer on its role in producing weapons that are causing extreme suffering and death to innocent children, women, and men around the world.
As they gathered on the sidewalk outside of Raytheon, some of the individuals lay on the sidewalk and were covered with sheets representing people around the world who have been killed in U.S. wars using weapons made by the war profiteer. Others mourned over large dolls representing the children who have been killed by Raytheon’s weapons. Sidewalks are normally a public place where people can exercise their First Amendment rights. However, in this case Raytheon controls the sidewalk. When asked to leave by the police, a number of activists said that because of the suffering and death caused by weapons produced by Raytheon, they could not leave until Raytheon agreed to stop producing weapons. Eventually six people were arrested as they followed their conscience.
photo credit of Merchants of Death War Crimes Tribunal
A subpoena was delivered to Raytheon in November 2022, by members of the Merchants of Death War Crimes Tribunal, requesting they turn over information about their complicity in war crimes. It was ignored. Another subpoena was delivered on November 8.
This action led into the opening session of the Merchants of Death War Crimes Tribunal, which began on November 12 and was streamed to a worldwide audience (the video is available here). You can find information on the tribunal at https://merchantsofdeath.org.
The Merchants of Death War Crimes Tribunal will hold accountable, through testimony of witnesses, U.S. weapons manufacturers who knowingly produce and sell products which attack and kill not only combatants but non-combatants as well. These manufacturers, including Raytheon, Lockheed Martin, General Atomics, and Boeing, may have committed Crimes Against Humanity as well as violated U.S. Federal criminal laws. The Tribunal will hear the evidence and render a verdict.
photo credit of Merchants of Death War Crimes Tribunal
photo credit of Merchants of Death War Crimes Tribunal