Elbit has contracts with Homeland Security & Customs and Border Patrol for surveillance and capture of immigrants and refugees escaping poverty, military/police violence, drug cartels, extortion and climate change and desperation.

 A New England-wide organization that NH Palestine Education Network (PEN) belongs to is called the New England Network for Justice in Palestine (NENJP). This fall, PEN is working with NENJP and others ("Alliance for Water Justice in Palestine," AFSC-NH, NH Veterans for Peace) to hold an event at a company in Merrimack, NH, that has close ties to the Department of Homeland Security and Customs and Border Patrol (CBP). This alliance between PEN and NENJP follows two years of PEN’s organizing peace vigils/protests at the company in Merrimack, Elbit Systems of America. This N.H. based company is a U.S. subsidiary of Elbit, located in Haifa, Israel.  Elbit is Israel's largest weapons-maker.
Last year on December 7th, PEN collaborated with Code Pink in sponsoring this vigil/protest. Over 30 people participated in the nonviolent action in front of Elbit Systems. Peaceful protestors came from Vermont, both southern and northern NH, and some from the Boston area and even western Massachusetts.
This year our vigil will be held on Friday, December 6th.  We are hoping for a much larger turnout. PEN believes that various faith communities and immigrant rights groups might consider endorsing our vigil and/or encourage their members to stand with us on December 6th.  PEN welcomes your endorsement.
At this time, parking at the Merrimack, NH Premium Outlets is probably our best available location. More later on directions, but it is likely we will have to establish a shuttle service between the outlets and Elbit.

Why the vigil/protest?
The women’s peace group, Code Pink, says the U.S. government has implemented a border militarization policy called “Prevention Through Deterrence” which seeks to establish control over the Southwest borderlands by sealing migrant crossing routes at U.S.-Mexico border towns and cities, intentionally leaving the dangerous desert as the only crossing area.“Prevention Through Deterrence” is the reason Oscar Alberto Martinez and his 23-month-old daughter, Angie Valeria, lost their lives in the Rio Grande River while on their journey from El Salvador to the U.S.Paramount to border enforcement under “Prevention Through Deterrence” is the Israeli weapons and surveillance company, Elbit Systems of America.
Jimmy Johnson of “Boycott for Peace,” an Arizona-based migrant justice and humanitarian group and formulator of the slogan “No More Deaths/No Mas Muertos,” has criticized Elbit Systems for setting up surveillance towers in Southern Arizona that “contributes to the increased militarization of communities in the U.S.-Mexico borderlands.”
The attached article is most relevant in understanding why people of faith and conscience ought to be concerned about what Elbit provides to Homeland Security as it impacts the lives of immigrants/refugees fleeing poverty, climate change, extortion, drug gangs and violence.

Contact for PEN NH: Will Thomas