Peace campaigners, who have been calling for an immediate and lasting ceasefire in Gaza for more than 12 months, say that it is a tragic irony that local company James Cropper PLC make both Remembrance Day poppies and materials used to build the F35 war planes, which Israel uses in attacks on Gaza.
They gathered again on Saturday (2nd November 2024), outside the town hall in Kendal and at the Market Cross in Ambleside. In both towns, they displayed a banner declaring, “STOP SUPPLYING GENOCIDE: NEVER AGAIN TO ANYONE” together with placards declaring "Make Paper Not F35s" and "Stop Arming Israel".
Spokesperson, Philip Gilligan said,
“The Royal British Legion have reminded us, this year, that their iconic red poppies are “a symbol of both Remembrance and hope for a peaceful future”. It is a tragic irony that, at the same time as they make Remembrance Day poppies, local company, James Cropper PLC, are also making materials for war planes that have already killed tens of thousands of civilians in Gaza, including many thousands of totally innocent children.
People will notice that our banner includes nine Remembrance Day poppies and, if they look more closely, they may also notice a label on the back with the statement, "Made while J. Cropper supplied parts to Israel for the genocide of Palestine". The poppies form an important part of our message to Croppers’ about their role in supplying materials for Israel’s F35s. We want to remind James Cropper PLC that the International Court of Justice has judged Israel’s actions in Gaza to be plausible war crimes amounting to genocide. And we are certain that most people in Westmorland would share our horror if they realised that combat aircraft containing materials made at Cropper’s Burneside Mills have already contributed massively to these crimes for over a year.
The fact that James Cropper PLC profits from supplying materials for Israel's F35s brings shame to all communities in Westmorland and Furness, and to Burneside and Kendal, in particular. As we remember those who have died in war and ‘hope for a peaceful future’, we again say to Croppers ‘Stop supplying genocide’."
