Tell Northrop Grumman They are Violating U.S. Law (Buffalo, NY)

WHAT: Northrop Grumman will be notified that it’s violating 6 U.S. laws (see addendum below) through its providing manned aircraft missile systems, and (in collaboration with Lockheed Martin) F-35 Fighter Jets and Apache attack helicopters, all to a country credibly accused of war crimes; and that it must stop doing so.

WHEN & WHERE: Wed, June 12, at 1pm; at the Northrop Grumman facility at 1740 Wehrle Drive, Buffalo (/Amherst area) NY 14221.

WHO: WNY Peace Center is organizing and inviting the community to join us in celebration of Daniel Ellsberg week (June 10-16) by assembling outside Northrop Grumman while a contingent goes inside to inform the company of its illegal acts, and tell them they must desist.

We invite people who plan to come to rsvp to  victoryross9@gmail.com.

Daniel Ellsberg, who passed away just a year ago, revealed to the U.S. public the truth about Vietnam and US nuclear weapons systems, risking his freedom by telling the truth for the good of all. In memory of his example, we’ll inform Northrop Grumman that it is violating U.S. laws, and that they must cease and desist. (At least four other companies with a local presence are also violating said laws.)

With annual sales of $39.3 Billion, NORTHROP GRUMMAN is the world’s #4th largest military company.

WHY:

The U.S. has enacted laws to prevent our enabling war crimes through arming countries credibly accused of such crimes. However, those laws are not being observed, facilitating war, humanitarian crises, and civilian death of horrific proportions in Gaza. (Targeting civilians is a crime under international law.)

With annual sales of $39.3 Billion, NORTHROP GRUMMAN is now the world’s #3rd largest military company, and has broken said laws. While its sales and stockholder dividends are increasing (9% and 10% respectively this quarter), civilians continue to die as our laws to prevent war crimes complicity are ignored.

Six U.S. laws are being broken by local companies. Our allies Veterans For Peace, of which we have a local chapter – Chapter 128 – describe the laws as follows:

• The Conventional Arms Transfer Policy, which prohibits U.S. weapons transfers when it’s likely they will be used by Israel to commit genocide; crimes against humanity; and grave breaches of the Geneva Conventions, including attacks intentionally directed against civilian objects or civilians protected or other serious violations of international humanitarian or human rights law, including serious acts of gender-based violence or serious acts of violence against children…
• The Foreign Assistance Act, which forbids the provision of assistance to a government which “engages in a consistent pattern of gross violations of internationally recognized human rights.”
• Arms Export Control Act, which says countries that receive US military aid can only use weapons for legitimate self-defense and internal security. Israel’s genocidal campaign in Gaza goes way beyond self-defense and internal security.
• The U.S. War Crimes Act, which forbids grave breaches of the Geneva Conventions, including willful killing, torture or inhuman treatment, willfully causing great suffering or serious injury to body or health, and unlawful deportation or transfer, perpetrated by the Israeli Occupying Forces.
• The Leahy Law, which prohibits the U.S. Government from using funds for assistance to units of foreign security forces where there is credible information implicating that unit in the commission of gross violations of human rights.
• The Genocide Convention Implementation Act, which was enacted to implement U.S. obligations under the Genocide Convention, provides for criminal penalties for individuals who commit or incite others to commit genocide.