Get ready to join in the resistance to DSEI 2023.
Every two years, the global arms trade comes to London. DSEI, one of the world’s largest arms fairs, returns to London’s Docklands this September.
This is where those who profit from war, repression and injustice do business. This is where we can stop them.
1,700+ arms companies plan to set up shop, marketing their lethal wares to an expected 36,000+ attendees from around the world.
Nothing is organised centrally by STAF, but the resistance is strong because our network is strong. Local groups put on events during the week that the fair sets up and throughout the fair itself, and at the gates of the arms fair and around London – check out our events page for details!
Organising an event to resist DSEI that you want others to know about or want to make sure the network are aware of? Fill in this secure form to let us know and we’ll publicise it for you!
There will be food, welfare support and a space to pop your tent – as well as actions that you can take locally or from home – so get involved and join the week of action to #StopDSEI from 12-15th September 2023!
Take a look at the events and actions you can join to stop the return of DSEI, and if you want to know more please get in touch!
Information about transport to the site and accessibility. If you need to know information that is not currently on this page, or to let us know about an access need, get in touch at resistDSEI@protonmail.com.
We urge those coming to any action to be COVID-safe, to protect our community and make this protest accessible to all. Please take a test before coming, bring sanitiser and respect those who want to social distance. Bring your own water bottle and mugs to get drinks on site!
Information about your legal rights on protests. Take the time to learn your rights before attending the week of action, for your own protection and the protection of those around you.
***IMPORTANT***
It is crucial that everyone joining this wonderful week of resistance adheres to the Stop the Arms Fair Safer Spaces Policy. Please also take a look at Campaign Against Arms Trade’s Action Guidelines on interactions with the police – who protect the arms trade, are part of the arms trade, and are institutionally racist – and on directing our protest at the arms industry (and so being mindful of the local community!).
Green and Black Cross will be coordinating legal observers throughout the week of action.
We’ve got crazy numbers of photos from last year’s 2021 resistance and 2019. But here’s one from the archives:
When the arms fair came to London in 2017, hundreds of people took action to disrupt its set-up.
As lorries and trucks transporting armoured vehicles, missiles, sniper rifles, tear gas and bullets attempted to get on site, people from around the world were there to put their bodies in the way.
Dabke-dancing, aerobics, an academic conference, a gig on a flatbed truck, abseilers dangling from a bridge, theatre, military veterans undertaking unofficial vehicle checks for banned weapons, Kurdish dancers, rebel clowns, religious gatherings, hip-hop artists, radical picnics, a critical mass of cyclists, Daleks, political choirs, and lots of people in arm-locks all blocked the entrances to the DSEI arms fair repeatedly over the course of a whole week.
Thousands more amplified the protests by signing petitions, lobbying decision-makers, speaking out online and in their own communities, and helping in diverse ways to make the protests possible.
What could you and others do to help stop the arms fair in 2023?
