State Repression of Anti-war Protest in London, ON

Six comrades were arrested in relation to protesting the ‘Best Defence’ weapons manufacturing conference that took place in London, Ontario in October 2025. 

 

The annual conference hosts the Canadian Armed Forces, politicians, arms dealers and defense contractors. Sponsors and exhibitors included Elbit Systems, Lockheed Martin, General Dynamics, among others, who have been building weapons systems for Israeli genocidal use to bomb Palestinian hospitals, schools, and refugee camps. 

 

They are directly implicated in imperialist violence across the world. The Canadian state has continued to arm genocide despite the government’s attempts at deception regarding adherence to an arms embargo. Only from sustained pressure by the working class has Parliament felt any pressure to answer for their aiding of war crimes, but it continues arms trade with Israel through loopholes and exceptions.

 

Over 100 anti-war protestors came to disrupt the conference. London Police responded with around 25 vehicles and one property-damage arrest, while blocking public street access and escorting conference attendees through side doors while blocking protestors. 

 

Over one month later, on November 25, police conducted four simultaneous pre-dawn house raids at the homes of activists across southern Ontario. They seized phones, laptops, USBs, and items that expressed Palestinian solidarity, including a holiday wreath, keffiyehs, hats, t-shirts, and lawn signs. They also seized several items not listed on search warrants, including passports in one household. 

 

Since the raids, many activists have been door-knocked and cold-called to try intimidating them into collaborating with police. 

 

This criminalization is an attempt to disrupt working class movements, and the only answer is unwavering solidarity. 

 

London community members held a demonstration outside of the courthouse on January 6 to support comrade David Heap, an anti-war activist, who was charged during the coordinated raids. 

 

Activists spoke at the rally and raised concerns about connections to Bill C-9 repression, the criminalization of anti-war protesting, and Canada’s complicity in Israeli genocide and silence in the face of imperialist violence in Venezuela. 

 

Legal fund donations are being accepted for the six arrested comrades, including Heap, and can be found at tinyurl.com/londonlegaldonation.