Protestors block entrance of General Dynamics in Saco

About 40 people blocked the entrances of the General Dynamics plant in Saco Friday morning, protesting U.S. support of Israel in the Israel-Hamas war.

Protestors sang songs and carried signs stating “Mainers Against Bomb Factories” and “General Dynamics Stop Arming Genocide.” Also blocking the main entrance to the facility was a boat with the sign “End War or We Die.” There were also a few young people “cemented in place,” sitting on the pavement with an arm in what appeared to be a tube stuck in concrete in a tire.

Some driving by honked their horns in support, others yelled words of opposition.

General Dynamics Weapon Systems at 291 North St. in Saco has been manufacturing weapons for more than 50 years, according to a facility overview linked to the company’s website. Its key product areas are single and multi-barrel aircraft and crew-served weapon systems, according to information from the company.

 

Protestors blocked the driveway at General Dynamics in Saco on Friday. PHOTO BY LIZ GOTTHELF

Lisa Savage came from Solon, a town just over 120 miles away from Saco, to join the protest. She said protestors had arrived at the facility about 10 minutes before 6 a.m. and intended to stay “as long as it takes.”

“We basically are horrified by the genocide in Gaza, appalled that 16,000 children have been killed  since October…. And some of the bombs that the U.S. sends Israel are made right here at this General Dynamics location. It’s right across the street from an elementary school. Do the parents of children at that school even know this is a bomb factory. I suspect they do not,” she said.

A woman who identified herself as Tanvi and said she lived in the mid coast area. She had an arm placed in a hole in a truck parked in the entranceway, and her free arm held a sign stating “End the Bombing.

“I’m here because General Dynamics, which is the fourth largest weapons manufacturer in the world, is currently making enormous profits from Israel’s genocide in Palestine. Over the last eight months, Israel has dropped over 70,000 bombs in the Gaza strip, which exceeds the number of bombs that were dropped in the entirety of the second World War,” she said.

She said the United States was one of the biggest manufacturers of bombs and one of the biggest providers of weapons to Israel.

Protestors referenced a press release from the U.S. Department of Defense stating that the Saco plant had been awarded a Navy contract for 50 percent of the work for the production and shipping of Mk 82 guided-missile directors and Mk 200 director control units, components of the Mk 99 missile fire control system framework. The other 50 percent of the work on this contract will be conducted in Vermont. The press release did not specify what work would be done in Saco and where the products would be used.

“We are here with really all we have, which is our voices and our bodies and each other to put a stop to the building of these bombs,” said Tanvi.

Police stood nearby the protestors on Friday, many of them in the parking lot of the Saco Fire Station, located next to the General Dynamics property.

“We’re here to make sure folks are allowed to exercise their first amendment rights,” said Saco Police Chief Jack Clements.

Clements said staff at General Dynamics had parked in the back parking lot of the Saco fire station. He said he was concerned that blocking the entrances to General Dynamics posed a safety risk if there was a need for an emergency evacuation.

Across the street from General Dynamics are a public playground, recreation field and Young School, a public school serving students from kindergarten through second grade.

Young School Principal Jeff Mears said in a letter to parents that school officials were in regular contact with the police chief, and while they didn’t think the demonstration posed any threat to the students’ safety, field day activities scheduled for Friday were moved indoors due to wet conditions and the interruptions of outdoor activities.

General Dynamics did not respond to media requests.  

Saco Bay News Publisher Liz Gotthelf can be reached at newsdesk@sacobaynews.com.