Unity of Fields
{{Short description|Pro-Palestinian protest network}}
{{Pp-extended|small=yes}}
{{Infobox organisation
| name = Unity of Fields
| image =
| image_size =
| alt =
| caption =
| logo =
| formation = 2023
| founder =
| type = Activist group
| status = Active
| purpose = Palestinian liberation
Propaganda through media
| region = United States
| key_people =
| formerly = Palestine Action US
| website = {{URL|https://www.unityoffields.org/}}
}}
Unity of Fields, formerly known as Palestine Action US, is an American Palestinian solidarity organization. It began as the United States branch of Palestine Action, a pro-Palestinian protest network targeting Israeli weapons manufacturers in the United Kingdom. Its earliest known activities began in February 2023, and it began protests in October following the outbreak of the Gaza war. Similar to Palestine Action, the group led a global campaign against Israel-based defense electronics company Elbit Systems.{{cite news |last1=McHardy |first1=Martha |date=31 October 2023 |title=Pro-Palestine activists claim to have shut down Boston arms company that supplies Israel |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/elbit-systems-protest-boston-palestine-b2438583.html |access-date=22 November 2023 |newspaper=The Independent}}
In 2024, the group changed its name to Unity of Fields and announced that it would change its focus to actively spreading “militant propaganda” against the United States. It was subsequently suspended from social media platforms.
Background
Palestine Action is a United Kingdom-based protest movement founded in 2020 when members targeted the UK headquarters of Elbit.{{cite news |title=Israeli arms company in London is targeted as activists launch Palestine Action network {{!}} The Canary |url=https://www.thecanary.co/trending/2020/07/30/israeli-arms-company-in-london-is-targeted-as-activists-launch-palestine-action-network/ |access-date=27 May 2021 |work=www.thecanary.co}} The group mobilized during the 2021 Israel–Palestine crisis and has carried out protests since.{{cite news |last1=Bedford |first1=Corey |title=Palestine Action breaks into drone factory during protest |url=https://www.leicestermercury.co.uk/news/leicester-news/palestine-action-protesters-break-leicester-5450737 |work=LeicestershireLive |date=2021-05-24 |language=en}}
The network's earliest known activities began in May 2023, when the group supported an event in the US House about the Nakba.{{cite web |last1=Gans |first1=Jared |title=McCarthy attempts to block Tlaib's event marking 'catastrophe' of Israel's establishment |url=https://thehill.com/homenews/house/3998649-mccarthy-blocks-tlaibs-event-marking-catastrophe-of-israels-establishment/ |website=thehill.com |date=10 May 2023 |publisher=The Hill |access-date=22 November 2023}}
Actions
{{See also|Gaza war protests in the United States}}
On October 12, activists from the group attempted to shut down an Elbit office in Cambridge, Massachusetts, according to Mondoweiss.{{cite web |last1=Arria |first1=Michael |title=The Shift: Boston activists attempt to shut down Israeli weapons supplier |url=https://mondoweiss.net/2023/10/the-shift-boston-activists-shut-down-israeli-weapons-supplier/ |website=mondoweiss.net |date=12 October 2023 |publisher=Mondoweiss |access-date=22 November 2023}}
On October 20, activists in Pittsfield, Massachusetts, protested General Dynamics. General Dynamics did not respond to questions about its involvement in the war, but said it supported activists' rights to protest.{{cite web |last1=Bellow |first1=Heather |title=Activists protest General Dynamics in Pittsfield over defense contracts and the Israel-Hamas war |url=https://www.berkshireeagle.com/news/local/pittsfield-general-dynamics-israel-hamas-palestinians-war-berkshire-communists-activists/article_ec204d1c-6ee4-11ee-8e1e-cb6121da994b.html |website=berkshireeagle.com |date=20 October 2023 |publisher=Berkshire Eagle |access-date=22 November 2023}}
On October 25, activists protested Elbit at the Wentworth Institute of Technology.{{cite web |last1=Park |first1=Andy |title=Pro-Palestine activists around the world protest Israeli weapons manufacturer Elbit Systems |url=https://honisoit.com/2023/10/pro-palestine-activists-around-the-world-protest-israeli-weapons-manufacturer-elbit-systems/ |website=honisoit.com |date=25 October 2023 |publisher=Honi Soit |access-date=22 November 2023}}
On October 30, activists vandalized and protested at the Boston office of Elbit, stating they shut it down. The group said 9 arrests were made by the Cambridge police.
On November 6, activists vandalized the Virginia office of Elbit.{{cite web |title=Offices of Israeli Defense Company Vandalized in Virginia |url=https://finance.yahoo.com/video/offices-israeli-defense-company-vandalized-135717068.html#:~:text=The%20offices%20of%20Elbit%20Systems,by%20Palestine%20Action%20US%20shows. |website=finance.yahoo.com | date=7 November 2023 |publisher=Yahoo! Finance |access-date=22 November 2023}}
On November 17, activists blocked entrances to BNY Mellon, targeted for its investments in Elbit. The NYPD broke up the protests and took 20 people into custody.{{cite web |last1=Fabbro |first1=Rocio |title=Around 20 Pro-Palestine Protesters Taken Into Custody Outside of BNY Mellon Headquarters |url=https://themessenger.com/business/bank-of-new-york-mellon-pro-palestine-protesters-new-york |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231117180211/https://themessenger.com/business/bank-of-new-york-mellon-pro-palestine-protesters-new-york |url-status=dead |archive-date=November 17, 2023 |website=themessanger.com |publisher=The Messenger |access-date=22 November 2023}}
In October 2024 Unity of Fields publicized acts of vandalism at Harvard and other universities, without claiming responsibility.{{cite web | last=Hartocollis | first=Anemona | title=Vandals Deface Harvard Statue and U. of Michigan Leaders’ Homes | website=The New York Times | date=2024-10-08 | url=https://www.nytimes.com/2024/10/08/us/oct-7-pro-palestinian-protests-vandalism.html | access-date=2024-10-09}}
=Merrimack 4=
On November 20, 2023, activists vandalized and blocked an Elbit office in Merrimack, New Hampshire. They occupied the roof of the building and were arrested.{{cite web |last1=Staton |first1=Jamie |title=3 arrested after paint poured on Merrimack facility of Israel-based defense electronics company |url=https://www.wmur.com/article/protest-new-hampshire-elbit-systems-112023/45898619# |website=wmur.com |date=21 November 2023 |publisher=WMUR |access-date=22 November 2023}}{{cite web |last1=Hroncich |first1=Maggie |title=Child Disney Star Among Three Protesters Arrested for Vandalizing Israeli Defense Company |url=https://www.nysun.com/article/child-disney-star-among-three-protesters-arrested-for-vandalizing-israeli-defense-company |website=nysun.com |date=21 November 2023 |publisher=The New York Sun |access-date=22 November 2023}}{{cite web |last1=Fortier |first1=Marc |title=3 arrested following pro-Palestine protest at Elbit Systems in NH |url=https://www.nbcboston.com/news/local/3-arrested-following-pro-palestine-protest-at-elbit-systems-in-nh/3197073/ |website=nbcboston.com |date=20 November 2023 |publisher=NBC Boston |access-date=22 November 2023}} They were arraigned the following day and condemned by both parties.{{cite web |last1=Porter |first1=Steven |title=Vandals arraigned on riot charges after disrupting Israeli-owned Elbit Systems in Merrimack, N.H. |url=https://www.bostonglobe.com/2023/11/21/metro/vandals-arraigned-riot-charges-after-disrupting-israeli-owned-elbit-systems-business-merrimack-nh/ |website=bostonglobe.com |publisher=Boston Globe |access-date=22 November 2023}}{{cite web |last1=Graham |first1=Michael |title=Attack on Israeli-Owned Business in Merrimack Denounced by Both Parties |url=https://nhjournal.com/antisemitic-criminal-attack-on-merrimack-business-denounced-by-both-parties/ |website=nhjournal.com |date=21 November 2023 |access-date=22 November 2023}} The network wrote on X, formerly Twitter, that one was released and the other two had bail set at $20,000.{{cite web |title=🚨Bridget is free.🚨 -Calla and Sophie had bail set at $20k each, and New Hampshire requires cash only. -That money is ready and available from bail support. Comrades are figuring out how to get it into cash. They will be free ASAP!!! |url=https://x.com/Pal_ActionUS/status/1727268797093183990?s=20 |website=x.com |publisher=Palestine Action US |access-date=22 November 2023}} The activists were initially charged with Class B felonies by Attorney General of New Hampshire John Formella. {{cite web |last1=Arria |first1=Michael |title=Palestine Action activists hit with felony charges over New Hampshire Elbit protest |url=https://mondoweiss.net/2024/02/palestine-action-activists-hit-with-felony-charges-over-new-hampshire-elbit-protest/ |website=mondoweiss.net |date=27 February 2024 |publisher=Mondoweiss |access-date=28 February 2025}} However, the felony charges were later dropped and the actionists pleaded guilty to misdemeanor criminal mischief and criminal trespass. They served 60 days in jail as a result. {{cite web|title=Merrimack 4 defeat felony charges |url=https://mondoweiss.net/2024/09/merrimack-4-defeat-felony-charges/ |website=mondoweiss.net |date=25 September 2024 |publisher=Mondoweiss |access-date=28 February 2025}}
=Name change=
In August 2024 the group announced on social media that it was becoming a "militant propaganda" group called Unity of Fields, in a post saying that it was necessary “to open a new front against the US empire.”{{cite web | last=Starr | first=Michael | title=Pro-vandalism group turns into 'militant propaganda front' for US, Israel collapse | website= The Jerusalem Post | date=2024-08-29 | url=https://www.jpost.com/diaspora/article-816918 | access-date=2024-10-09}} The phrase "Unity of Fields" refers to unity between different anti-Israel actors.{{cite web | title=The Phrases “Unity of Fields [of Battle]”, “Unity of Fronts” or “Axis of Resistance”: Between Slogan and Reality | website=Institute for Palestine Studies | date=2022-04-29 | url=https://www.palestine-studies.org/en/node/1654679 | access-date=2024-10-09}} The group's Instagram and X (formerly Twitter) accounts were suspended after this post.
Responses
Senator Marco Rubio urged the United States Department of Justice to investigate Unity of Fields for domestic terrorism. {{cite web | last=Blankley | first=Bethany | title= Sen. Rubio calls on DOJ to investigate pro-Hamas domestic terrorist group | website= The Highland County Press | date=2024-10-23 | url=https://highlandcountypress.com/news/sen-rubio-calls-doj-investigate-pro-hamas-domestic-terrorist-group#gsc.tab=0 | access-date=2025-02-28}}