Picketers outside Bisalloy Steel Unanderra on 7 February. Photo: Wollongong Friends of Palestine.
More than 100 people have gathered to shut down operations at Bisalloy Steel in Unanderra for 48 hours.
Wollongong Friends of Palestine, joined by community members from the Illawarra and as far afield as Bega and Newcastle, have camped outside the company’s factory since Sunday 8 February.
They want Bisalloy to can its sale of reinforced armoured steel to Israel and defence contractors with ties to Israel.
It is the latest – and longest – in a series of pickets that have taken place at the site over the past several years.
Organiser Jet Hunt said the picket had so far prevented three shifts from going ahead, and hoped to stop another five before finishing up on Tuesday 10 February.
“The picket is part of nationwide protests opposing the visit of Israel’s President Isaac Herzog,” Jet said.
Jet claimed high-strength armoured steel provided by Bisalloy to Israel was used to manufacture tanks.
“Our purpose is really clear – to shut that supply chain down,” she said.
“The fact that people are willing to pull off a 48-hour picket shows the people of the Illawarra do not want our steel, from our town, to armour genocide.”
Previously, Bisalloy declined to confirm whether it had direct trade relationships with Israel, and insisted that all contracts the company undertook had the necessary Australian Government approvals.
At its November annual general meeting Bisalloy chairperson David Balkin acknowledged the company’s “20-plus-year long relationship with leading Israeli companies”.
The AGM was conducted remotely due to “security concerns” as a result of ongoing protest action at the Unanderra site.
The program for the latest demonstration however, reads more like an all-ages festival.
The picket includes live music, a film screening, a poetry slam, reading corner, plus workshops, teach-ins and a play and activity area for kids.
Bands include youth punk group Dagger Child and the Illawarra Union Singers.
Wet weather hasn’t dampened support, with a number of tarps used to provide shelter for protestors.
Jet said the protest was designed to be family-friendly, as many protestors were parents themsleves.
“It is a direct action, but it’s being made with a lot of love,” she said.
“For those of us with kids it’s hard to see children just like our own targeted indiscriminately.
“We have a clear goal to cut the genocidal supply line that runs directly from Unanderra to Israel, but it’s important the picket accommodates the people who make it up.”
Bisalloy was contacted about the most recent picket, but declined to comment.
