At the least 4 activists had been arrested exterior the Brooklyn Navy Yard in New York Metropolis on Wednesday morning, September 17, whereas forming a blockade in protest of two tenants they are saying are profiteering from Israel’s violence towards Palestinians.
Tucked within the Brooklyn Navy Yard complicated (BNY), a bunch of city-owned buildings the place tenants pay no actual property taxes, the surveillance drone producer Straightforward Aerial is listed as a “Fine Art/Photography” enterprise. The corporate has ties to each the Israeli army and america Division of Homeland Safety. Not distant, Crye Precision, a textile producer that has allegedly equipped attire for the Israeli army — a declare the corporate denies — carries the label “Fashion/Accessories” on the BNY’s web site.
Over the past yr, activists, group members, and, most just lately, one state senator have known as upon the BNY to evict Straightforward Aerial and Crye Precision. At present, throughout a board assembly held by the nonprofit growth company that oversees the BNY, dozens of demonstrators of all ages shaped a circle in entrance of the property, holding protest indicators accusing the 2 firms of supporting Israel’s genocide in Gaza, as characterised by a United Nations fee on Monday.
Protesters unfurl a big banner exterior the Brooklyn Navy Yard.
Whereas a bunch of organizers led a press convention, demonstrators shaped a blockade at an entrance to the yard’s Constructing 77. When Hyperallergic arrived, 4 people had been being zip-tied and loaded right into a New York Police Division (NYPD) van, the place protesters stood face-to-face with cops.
Activists later posted a video of a further protester being tackled by the NYPD and claimed {that a} press photographer was “severely assaulted” by somebody affiliated with the BNY.
NYPD declined to touch upon the variety of arrests, however mentioned that 10 folks chained themselves to a fence. No prices have been filed towards the alleged assailant, in keeping with the NYPD. A BNY spokesperson mentioned that the person accountable was arrested and that their entry to the property has been revoked.
On BNY’s web site, 63 companies are categorized as “Fine Art/Photography,” nearly all of that are professional galleries and artists’ studios. The Pratt Institute, as an illustration, operates a 20,000-square-foot analysis campus for digital archaeology, robotics, and different disciplines inside the BNY.
In response to Hyperallergic’s inquiries relating to the protesters’ calls for, a consultant for BNY mentioned that its web site “broadly categorizes tenants based on what they produce,” noting that Straightforward Aerial “manufactures a drone-mounted camera” and that Crye produces several types of clothes, together with surgical robes.
“Leases are binding legal agreements. Evictions only take place when tenants violate the terms of such agreements and must be approved by a valid court order,” the spokesperson mentioned. “Lease terms focus on financial obligations (i.e., rent), obligations as to compliance with laws, permitted uses, maintenance of premises, etc., but do not regulate particular business activities nor their choice of customers.”
At the least 4 people had been arrested on the protest right this moment, September 17.
Maisha Morales, a group advocate concerned in native politics who resides in Brooklyn’s Fort Greene neighborhood, instructed Hyperallergic at right this moment’s protest that the classification of Straightforward Aerial as a “fine art” enterprise was “an insult to our intelligence.”
“How dare you? This is not fine arts,” Morales mentioned.
Morales, who mentioned she has beforehand testified earlier than the event company board in assist of evicting the 2 firms, opined that their tenancy betrays her perceived mission of the BNY as offering alternatives for working-class New Yorkers. As a result of the BNY is a Certified Alternative Zone, companies could also be eligible to defer taxes on capital good points by 2026.
“I can’t control what happens with my federal tax dollars, right? But I can control what happens with my local tax dollars,” Morales mentioned.
For weeks, Hyperallergic has adopted members of the group Demilitarize Brooklyn Navy Yard, a coalition of activists and group members demanding that the public-owned constructing evict Straightforward Aerial and Crye Precision. The group gathers on the BNY for normal demonstrations, blaring horns and chanting into megaphones throughout rush hour site visitors on Flushing Avenue.
Protesters accused Straightforward Aerial of producing “genocidal drones” for the Israeli army.
Straightforward Aerial, headquartered within the yard’s Constructing 77, manufactures military-grade autonomous surveillance drones which, in keeping with the corporate’s promotional supplies, have been deployed at Israeli border posts. In a June 2021 promotional video, a commander within the Israeli army’s “Gaza Division” defined how she makes use of Straightforward Aerial’s drone to coordinate with snipers on the bottom to “fire.” The corporate has collaborated with Elbit Programs, Israel’s largest protection agency.
In keeping with the Wall Road Journal, the corporate has additionally bought drones which have been utilized in Tzur Hadassah, which borders the Occupied West Financial institution, to surveil “intruders from a neighboring Palestinian village.”
On the primary anniversary of October 7 in 2024, Straightforward Aerial mentioned on LinkedIn that it was “proud to have played a role in supporting Israel’s defense forces” and that its applied sciences had enhanced the “surveillance, protection, and aid” of Israeli communities.
The US Division of Homeland Safety has additionally funded the drone producer by an Israel-US program. This summer time, the company forecasted a $1–2 million contract between the US Border Patrol and Straightforward Aerial for “inhibiting threat migration.”
Straightforward Aerial has not but responded to a number of requests for remark, however has beforehand characterised its merchandise as defensive and has claimed that protesters are misguided.
Protesters drew messages in chalk in entrance of the Flushing Avenue-facing Constructing 77.
Crye Precision’s web site additionally lists Agilite, a producer of tactical gear for the Israeli army, as one of many firms that licenses its MultiCam® camouflage sample.
“Crye Precision does not sell weapons or drones, nor do we have any contracts with the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) or any Israeli manufacturers,” the spokesperson mentioned.
State Senator Jabari Brisport of New York’s twenty fifth district
New York State Senator Jabari Brisport, who represents the twenty fifth District, the place the BNY is positioned, attended the press convention in assist of the activists this morning.
Brisport instructed Hyperallergic that he’s seen an “openness” amongst BNY management to vary the “Fine Art” and “Fashion” designations of the companies, however that his final aim is eviction.
“We have two businesses here that are complicit in the genocide,” Brisport instructed Hyperallergic. “This is something we can do locally and plug into, especially at a time when people feel like their national leaders are not listening to them at all on Israel.”
When members of the press and organizers arrived on the yard this morning, credentialed reporters had been denied entry to the Constructing 92 courtyard, the place the assembly was occurring inside. A spokesperson for BNY instructed Hyperallergic that the constructing courtyard was closed for “security reasons.”
Outdoors the gates, one protester held a toddler of their arms.
“At this moment, there are babies like my baby, like this baby right here, the same exact size, who are being blown up,” the protester instructed a crowd of reporters. “They do not want to be accountable to the babies and children of Gaza, and they don’t want to be accountable to the Black and Brown families in New York City.”
Police mentioned there have been 70 protesters on the scene.
Crye Precision denies having any contracts with the Israeli army or producers.
Protesters stood exterior Constructing 77, the place Straightforward Aerial is positioned.
A protester repeatedly units off a horn at cops.
