Unity of Fields, formerly known as Palestine Action US, is an American Palestinian solidarity organization. It began as the United States branch of Palestine Action, a pro-Palestinian protest network targeting Israeli weapons manufacturers in the United Kingdom. Its earliest known activities began in February 2023, and it began protests in October following the outbreak of the Israel-Hamas war. Similar to its UK counterpart, the group led a global campaign against Israel-based defense electronics company Elbit Systems.[1][2]
| Formation | 2023 |
|---|---|
| Type | Activist group |
| Legal status | Active |
| Purpose | Palestinian liberation Propaganda through media |
Region | United States |
| Website | www |
Formerly called | Palestine Action US |
In 2024, the group changed its name to Unity of Fields and announced that it would change its focus to actively spreading “militant propaganda” against the United States. It was subsequently suspended from social media platforms.[3]
Background
editPalestine Action is a United Kingdom-based protest movement founded in 2020 when members targeted the UK headquarters of Elbit.[4] The group mobilized during the 2021 Israel–Palestine crisis and has carried out protests since.[5]
Activities
editThe network's earliest known activities began in May 2023, when the group supported an event in the US House about the Nakba.[6]
On October 12, activists from the group attempted to shut down an Elbit office in Cambridge, Massachusetts, according to Mondoweiss.[7]
On October 20, activists in Pittsfield, Massachusetts, protested General Dynamics. General Dynamics did not respond to questions about its involvement in the war, but said it supported activists' rights to protest.[8]
On October 25, activists protested Elbit at the Wentworth Institute of Technology.[2]
On October 30, activists vandalized and protested the Boston office of Elbit, claiming they shut it down. The group claimed 9 arrests were made by the Cambridge police.[1][2]
On November 6, activists vandalized the Virginia office of Elbit.[9]
On November 17, activists blocked entrances to BNY Mellon, targeted for its investments in Elbit. The NYPD broke up the protests and took 20 people into custody.[10]
On November 20, activists vandalized and blocked an Elbit office in Merrimack, New Hampshire. They occupied the roof of the building and were arrested.[11][12][13] They were arraigned the following day and condemned by both parties.[14][15] The network claimed on X, formerly Twitter, that one was released and the other two had bail set at $20,000.[16]
In October 2024 Unity of Fields publicized acts of vandalism at Harvard and other universities, without directly claiming responsibility.[17]
Name change
editIn August 2024 the group announced on social media that it was becoming a "militant propaganda" group called Unity of Fields, in a post saying that it was necessary “to open a new front against the US empire.”[3] The phrase "Unity of Fields" refers to unity between different anti-Israel actors.[3][18] The group's Instagram and X (formerly Twitter) accounts were suspended after this post.[3]
References
edit- ^ a b McHardy, Martha (31 October 2023). "Pro-Palestine activists claim to have shut down Boston arms company that supplies Israel". The Independent. Retrieved 22 November 2023.
- ^ a b c Park, Andy (25 October 2023). "Pro-Palestine activists around the world protest Israeli weapons manufacturer Elbit Systems". honisoit.com. Honi Soit. Retrieved 22 November 2023.
- ^ a b c d Starr, Michael (2024-08-29). "Pro-vandalism group turns into 'militant propaganda front' for US, Israel collapse". The Jerusalem Post. Retrieved 2024-10-09.
- ^ "Israeli arms company in London is targeted as activists launch Palestine Action network | The Canary". www.thecanary.co. Retrieved 27 May 2021.
- ^ Bedford, Corey (2021-05-24). "Palestine Action breaks into drone factory during protest". LeicestershireLive.
- ^ Gans, Jared (10 May 2023). "McCarthy attempts to block Tlaib's event marking 'catastrophe' of Israel's establishment". thehill.com. The Hill. Retrieved 22 November 2023.
- ^ Arria, Michael (12 October 2023). "The Shift: Boston activists attempt to shut down Israeli weapons supplier". mondoweiss.net. Mondoweiss. Retrieved 22 November 2023.
- ^ Bellow, Heather (20 October 2023). "Activists protest General Dynamics in Pittsfield over defense contracts and the Israel-Hamas war". berkshireeagle.com. Berkshire Eagle. Retrieved 22 November 2023.
- ^ "Offices of Israeli Defense Company Vandalized in Virginia". finance.yahoo.com. Yahoo! Finance. 7 November 2023. Retrieved 22 November 2023.
- ^ Fabbro, Rocio. "Around 20 Pro-Palestine Protesters Taken Into Custody Outside of BNY Mellon Headquarters". themessanger.com. The Messenger. Archived from the original on November 17, 2023. Retrieved 22 November 2023.
- ^ Staton, Jamie (21 November 2023). "3 arrested after paint poured on Merrimack facility of Israel-based defense electronics company". wmur.com. WMUR. Retrieved 22 November 2023.
- ^ Hroncich, Maggie (21 November 2023). "Child Disney Star Among Three Protesters Arrested for Vandalizing Israeli Defense Company". nysun.com. The New York Sun. Retrieved 22 November 2023.
- ^ Fortier, Marc (20 November 2023). "3 arrested following pro-Palestine protest at Elbit Systems in NH". nbcboston.com. NBC Boston. Retrieved 22 November 2023.
- ^ Porter, Steven. "Vandals arraigned on riot charges after disrupting Israeli-owned Elbit Systems in Merrimack, N.H." bostonglobe.com. Boston Globe. Retrieved 22 November 2023.
- ^ Graham, Michael (21 November 2023). "Attack on Israeli-Owned Business in Merrimack Denounced by Both Parties". nhjournal.com. Retrieved 22 November 2023.
- ^ "🚨Bridget is free.🚨 -Calla and Sophie had bail set at $20k each, and New Hampshire requires cash only. -That money is ready and available from bail support. Comrades are figuring out how to get it into cash. They will be free ASAP!!!". x.com. Palestine Action US. Retrieved 22 November 2023.
- ^ Hartocollis, Anemona (2024-10-08). "Vandals Deface Harvard Statue and U. of Michigan Leaders' Homes". The New York Times. Retrieved 2024-10-09.
- ^ "The Phrases "Unity of Fields [of Battle]", "Unity of Fronts" or "Axis of Resistance": Between Slogan and Reality". Institute for Palestine Studies. 2022-04-29. Retrieved 2024-10-09.