In their second act of street theater protesting the pending war on Iraq, 12 Southern Californians were arrested March 11 as they blocked a major intersection in front of the Raytheon Space and Airborne Systems facility in El Segundo, CA.
More than 50 protesters assembled by the Middle East Peace Education Program of American Friends Service Committee, gathered at the entrance of Raytheon, the nation's fourth largest defense contractor, to dramatize the awesome cost of an all out war on Iraq.
A mural of the White House served as a backdrop as a corporate CEO in a suit and tie symbolically destroyed education (a large ruler), healthcare (crutches), food and hunger programs (an apple) and affordable housing (a "For Rent" sign). An air-inflated "missile" inscribed with RAYTHEON ("light of the gods") fell on "Iraqis" who slumped to their deaths on the sidewalk.
Union organizer Bob McCloskey wore a sign around his neck identifying him as George W. Bush. Standing next to a pile of "Iraqi corpses," he exclaimed: "We love the Iraqi people, but of course, there will be some casualties."
Brandishing a sign she made that stated: "Preserve Life, Plan for Peace and Pay for Peace," actress Mimi Kennedy said she believes in this sentiment rather than the government's plan for death. "This is the only way we can protest," stated Kennedy who plays Dharma's hippie mother in the primetime TV series Dharma and Gregg. "I voted last week, but war wasn't on the ballot. Conflict may be inevitable, but violence is not."
Demonstrators brandished signs that quoted Raytheon's website claim: "We own the kill chain."
Stated protest coordinator Shady Hakim: "Raytheon's $14.5 billion defense business provides 85 percent of its total revenue. It has the highest profit margins in the industry. In fact, its shares rose 30 percent after the U.S. went to war in Afghanistan. It's a company profiting off war."
A check on stock market reports shows that Raytheon shares soared to $45.70 at the onset of the May 2002 U.S. campaign in Afghanistan, but they now are hovering near a yearlong low at $24.96.
Tomahawk Cruise Missiles are just one of Raytheon's popular products. It also manufactures AMRAAM missiles at $386,000 each, HARM missiles at $284,000 each and Maverick missiles at $180,000 each.
Stated protester Shiva Rose: "Our (government) priorities are ridiculous. One Tomahawk missile costs $600,000, an amount that could provide 379 children health care for one year."
Rose, who is the wife of TV's "The Practice" star Dylon McDermott, was arrested Jan. 16 in AFSC's first civil disobedience act at the Downtown Los Angeles Federal Building. "Here we are," she said, "trying to bribe Turkey with $26 billion dollars to provide us military bases when we need that money here for social services and health care."
At this point, 12 protesters wearing white and red armbands linked hands and stepped into an intersection blocking vehicular traffic in the busy airport/industrial area.
In response to a query as to why protesters didn't block the entrance to Raytheon, Hakim said if they had stepped foot on property of Raytheon, a government contractor, they could have been pegged with federal charges.
Protesters sang "We Shall Overcome" as El Segundo squad cars approached and stopped in the intersection.
Traffic lines grew and horns honked, before an officer declared through a bullhorn that the group was forming an unlawful assembly and would be arrested if it didn't disburse.
After several warnings, 25 helmeted, baton-wielding policemen positioned themselves parallel to the protesters. On signal, they fast-marched toward the demonstrators.
One-by-one, the ordinary citizens were handcuffed and taken to a van. Police were cordial, some even chatted with their charges as they escorted them to the paddy wagon.
"I'm compelled to act on my conscience because I think our government is making the wrong choices by favoring war and weapons instead of addressing the basic needs of the American people," stated Katie Murphy, a poverty law attorney, shortly before she was arrested.
"This is just a way to put my life on the line and say I cannot do anything else," stated Rhodes Thompson, 75, a retired minister as he waited to be handcuffed.
The action was part of the Iraq Pledge of Resistance. It was not reported in the Los Angeles Times or other major media.
