Around 20 people from the Scottish Hunger Strike Support group staged a “die-in” at the entrance of the JPMorgan Chase & Co office in Glasgow’s Argyle Street on Friday afternoon.
Activists lay outside the building, which they said was to force JPMorgan employees to “walk over a field of dead bodies” as they entered their place of work.
(Image: Scottish Hunger Strike Support)
(Image: Scottish Hunger Strike Support)
(Image: Scottish Hunger Strike Support)
Campaigners targeted JPMorgan over its $22 million shareholding in Israeli weapons manufacturer Elbit Systems.
Elbit Systems provides around 85% of Israel’s drones and land-based military equipment and has played a major role in supplying Israel with weaponry for its genocide in Gaza.
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The demonstration was also held in solidarity with the ongoing hunger strike of a number of Palestine Action prisoners, who have demanded that all Elbit Systems factories in the UK are shut down.
The National told on Friday how the hunger strikers are described to be on “the brink of death”, as concerns continue to grow for Heba Muraisi and Kamran Ahmed, the longest fasting members of an original group of eight – on day 69 and 62 of their hunger strikes respectively – with the pair reported to be experiencing potential long-term damage.
Protesters held signs reading “Support The Hunger Strikers” and “We Demand Criminal Investigation Into Elbit Systems UK” as they lay outside the building on Friday.
(Image: Scottish Hunger Strike Support)
(Image: Scottish Hunger Strike Support)
It comes after the JPMorgan office was targeted by campaigners from Mothers Against Genocide Scotland earlier this week.
The group, which is comprised of mothers, held signs and set up a washing line filled with baby socks as a tribute to children killed in Gaza.
Protests have taken place in Scotland against financial institutions with reported ties with Elbit. In December, 11 different HSBC offices were targeted with red paint – with campaigners saying the bank holds shares with Elbit Systems.
(Image: Scottish Hunger Strike Support)
A Scottish Hunger Strike Support spokesperson said: “This company’s depraved investment in the machinery of genocide is not welcome in Glasgow.
“Disruption at JPMorgan will not cease until all ties to Elbit Systems are severed.”
JPMorgan declined to comment.