Red tank tracks painted at London, Ont. MP offices and home of General Dynamics president
Activists targeted the constituency offices of London MPs Peter Fragiskatos and Kate Young, along with the home president of General Dynamics Land Systems Canada Monday morning. They painted red tank tracks across the properties, including on the driveways, walkways and doorways.
The groups World Beyond War, People for Peace London and Labour Against the Arms Trade are mentioned in a news release announcing the move.
The release says the damage was done “to mark the third anniversary of the Yemen school bus massacre. The Saudi bombing of a school bus in a crowded market in northern Yemen on August 9, 2018 killed 44 children and ten adults and wounded many more.”
The group is against Canada selling Light Armoured Vehicles (LAVs) made in London to Saudi Arabia.
“This is beyond disappointing,” said Fragiskatos, the Liberal MP representing London North Centre. “Democracy implies disagreements, but we have to reasonably disagree. I’m not sure what exactly the aim is here. The symbolism is clear, I understand that.”
He said LAVs made in Canada and supplied to Saudi Arabia have not been used contrary to human rights.
“Leave that aside for a moment,” he added. “This is not the way we ought to engage with one another in democracy.”
Activists painted red tank tracks across the offices of London MPs Peter Fragiskatos and Kate Young, and the private home of General Dynamics Land Systems Canada president in London, Ont. on Monday, Aug. 9, 2021. (Source: Ryan Gauss)
World Beyond War has staged demonstrations outside of General Dynamics in the past, but spokesperson Rachel Small told CTV News London it is not responsible for these particular acts. She claimed they were committed by anonymous activists with the group’s support.
“It’s an independent group of people who said ‘enough is enough, we refuse to continue allowing Canada to arm this horrific war,’” said Small. She makes no apologies for the handiwork.
“As a person who cares about human rights, as someone in solidarity with people around the world, and also the parent to a young child -- the least I can do is ensure that these companies, and that the Canadian government is forced to answer for this horrific violence.”
Activists painted red tank tracks across the offices of London MPs Peter Fragiskatos and Kate Young, and the private home of General Dynamics Land Systems Canada president in London, Ont. on Monday, Aug. 9, 2021. (Source: Ryan Gauss)
Fragiskatos said London police have been contacted and the matter is being investigated as a property crime. He expects those responsible will be charged.
In the meantime, police could be seen Monday morning outside the private drive to the London home of the president of General Dynamics. Red painted tracks were still visible on the driveway.
General Dynamics declined an interview request.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
BREAKING Explosions heard in Iran, Syria as Middle East braces for Israeli retaliation
Loud explosions were heard in Iran and near Syria's capital early on Saturday, state media in both countries said, the possible start of an awaited response by Israel to a ballistic-missile barrage carried out by Iran on Oct. 1.
BREAKING Scotiabank users report issues with mobile login, online banking
Scotiabank users are reporting issues with mobile login and online banking, according to third-party website downdetector.ca.
'Get away from your inner circle': Liberal MP 'shocked' PM didn't take more time to reflect on calls to resign
Longtime Liberal MP Wayne Long says Prime Minister Justin Trudeau should give more weight to the views of his backbenchers in determining his future leading the Party, rather than relying on those in his immediate orbit.
Mother who beat and starved her 5-year-old son to death sentenced to over 50 years in prison
A New Hampshire woman was sentenced Friday to 53 years to life in prison in the death of her 5-year-old son, who was beaten, starved and exposed to drugs before his 19-pound body was found buried in a Massachusetts park in 2021.
An abrupt goodbye to a guerilla goldfish aquarium beneath a leaky Brooklyn fire hydrant
A makeshift aquarium that popped up this summer in a puddle beneath a leaky fire hydrant has been paved over, to the dismay of neighbors who turned the area into a hangout spot and goldfish shrine.
Canadian warship missile test aborted mid-flight after communication failure
A Canadian navy missile test was aborted mid-flight this week after controllers lost communication with the projectile off the coast of southern California.
'I did everything I could': Canada Post driver recounts helping save woman from fiery Tesla crash
Canada Post driver Rick Harper recounts how he and others help save a woman from a Tesla that caught fire after crashing into a guardrail on Lake Shore Boulevard.
'The power of nostalgia': N.B. archivist creates highway time machine
The Provincial Archives of New Brunswick (PANB) has uploaded dozens of dashboard camera videos from the 1970s to their YouTube channel.
'Violence is not good': UW stabber apologizes at end of sentencing hearing
Geovanny Villalba-Aleman, the man who stabbed three people in a gender studies class at the University of Waterloo, says he ‘acted dumb’.