Above photo: Francesca Nadin is arrested after an action at the Teledyne Defence & Space in Shipley, Bradford, in May. Martin Pope Photography.
Note: Palestine Action activist Francesca Nadin, 38, has been imprisoned awaiting trial since 29 June after she was arrested and charged with “conspiracy to commit criminal damage” against two Leeds banks, Barclays and JP Morgan. Both banks invest in Israel’s biggest weapons producer, Elbit Systems.
Before she was remanded to prison, Francesca and three others commemorated the 76th anniversary of the Nakba by occupying Teledyne Defence & Space in Shipley, Bradford. By scaling the roof and dismantling the American weapons factory, the four halted the production of parts for Israel’s missiles and F-35 fighter jets.
Including Nadin, there are currently 16 political prisoners from Palestine Action in the UK.
My name is Francesca, and I speak to you from a prison cell where I am being unjustly held.
Although I can’t be with you in person, these walls can’t silence the power of your support. Knowing that we stand united, even from a distance, fills me with strength. Letters, from people I’ve never even met, remind me daily that my sacrifice has meaning. I’m proud to represent our movement, and I thank you with all my heart.
Prison is a microcosm of society. Recently, someone pointed out a new inmate – supposedly a protester like me. Here, I’m known as “The Protester.” But she wasn’t like me at all. She was part of the racist riots that plagued our streets in August.
Too many people don’t – or won’t – see the difference between those who fight for justice and those who spread hate.
I approached this woman warily, but curious to see how the conversation would unfold. We had a polite conversation that led me to believe that she was sorry for her actions. And I naively thought, that would be the end of it.
But her arrival sparked events that revealed an ugly truth – racism is rampant here in prison, just like it is on the outside. Reasoning with these people is useless, so I stand with the few who share my values. We may be a minority, but we protect and look out for each other.
We must never lose sight of who is really to blame, who the true culprits are behind this disgusting hate filled rhetoric, the politicians and media who peddle lies to divide us, scapegoating migrants and inciting violence.
They stir up chaos, then treat it as a “law and order” problem, locking people away while covering up the real causes. This won’t solve anything; it only feeds more hate, giving racists a chance to play the victim.
Racism is rooted in the UK’s colonial past. Ignorance keeps it alive. Until we educate people, this cycle of hate will keep repeating. Judges are now exploiting this. According to them, we, who fight for peace and justice, are no different to racist thugs.
I’m shocked and troubled to see our comrades labeled as terrorists and treated in the most repressive way imaginable.
One judge even admitted he had to “make an example” of us – to humiliate and intimidate us – in order to scare others from taking similar action.
But we won’t be discouraged. This is proof we’re hitting them where it hurts. They punish us because they’re scared. They know our actions are costing their precious corporations – Barclays is under immense pressure, Elbit Systems is being chased out, and Scotia Bank is feeling the heat of its complicity.
Their scare tactics will not work. In fact, they are a rallying call.
We must fight back with everything we’ve got and not just for Palestine, but for our own rights to free speech and protest. We must speak out against injustice everywhere.
In this prison, I’ve seen how rotten the system is, but I’ve also become stronger, more resilient. Most importantly, I’ve lost my fear. When we stand up to our oppressors, we free ourselves.
I no longer fear the police, the judges, or their absurd interpretation of the law. Inside or outside prison, I will keep fighting, and so will all of us, fearless, united, with justice and love in our hearts.
Free the prisoners.
Free Palestine.