PORTSMOUTH — An ad-hoc coalition of Rhode Island peace activists plans to demonstrated in front of Raytheon headquarters Tuesday, March 1, from 2-3 p.m.

The protest will coincide with nationwide actions against the continued U.S. support for the Saudi/UAE war in Yemen, and will call on the Rhode Island Congressional delegation to support a current Yemen War Powers Resolution to block U.S. weapons sales and military support to Saudi Arabia. 

The call is being put out by an ad-hoc coalition of local people, including Nancy Hood, East Bay Citizens for Peace; Jonathan Daly-Labelle, No Endless War or Excessive Militarism; William Smith III, Pax Christi-RI; Nancy Houston, Friends Committee on National Legislation; Tyler Barnes-Diana, Brown War Watch; and David Oppenheimer.

With U.S. weapons and logistical help, Saudi Arabia has waged a devastating war and blockade in Yemen for seven years, resulting in hundreds of thousands of deaths and widespread starvation, the coalition stated in a press release.

“Hospitals, food depots, dams, communication centers and civilian gatherings such as weddings and funerals have been targeted. Research on serial numbers has shown that munitions made by Raytheon were used in civilian massacres. Raytheon has lobbied for more arms sales and has supported the Yemen war as good for business,” the release stated.

“A war powers resolution blocking U.S. involvement in this war passed Congress with bipartisan support in 2019 but was vetoed by then-President Trump. Although President Biden has promised to end U.S. support for the war, he has not yet done so.”

The coalition said protesters will be peaceful and will not block the entrance to the Raytheon complex, unlike a demonstration by a different set of activists in August 2021. At that event, protesters from two different groups, the FANG Collective and RAM INC (Resist and Abolish the Military Industrial Complex), showed up in front of Raytheon early one morning and blocked both the entrance and exit. Two people were arrested after they had blocked the access points by cementing themselves to their respective vehicles.

The demonstration on Tuesday, which was planned before the current Russian invasion of Ukraine, will be highly visible from passing traffic on Rt. 114, the coalition said.