Get ready to join in the resistance to DSEI 2021.
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.
Arms fair organisers Clarion hope that DSEI will mark the arms industry’s “commitment to a return to live events”. A full programme of resistance is planned!
Each day of the week of action will be themed, with talks, music, art, workshops, actions and more. During the set up of the arms fair Mon 6th is ‘Stop Arming Israel’, Tues 7th is a day of solidarity with Afghanistan, Wed 8th is ‘Demilitarise Education’, Thu 9th is ‘Borders, Migration and Anti-Racism’, Fri 10th is a climate day of action, Sat 11th is a ‘Festival of Resistance’ plus an online ‘Conference at the Gates’ (the Art the Arms Fair exhibition also opens in Mayfair on the same day!), on Sun 12th there is a ‘Stop Arming Israel’ demo and on the Tues 14th there is a big day of action to resist the opening of the arms fair. There are also lots of smaller events happening throughout the week of action both online and at the gates of the arms fair – check out our events page for details! 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 6th to 17th September 2021!
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.
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 2021?
