Protesters Currently Blocking All Entrances to "War Crimes Summit" in London, Ontario—Where Canada's Military Industry is Slated to Gather - World BEYOND War
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Happening now, protesters from across Ontario are blocking all access to the Best Defence Conference, one of Canada's leading arms and "defence innovation" trade shows, hosted at RBC Place in London. #WorldBEYONDWar

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October 21, 2025

BREAKING

Protesters Currently Blocking All Entrances to “War Crimes Summit” in London, Ontario—Where Canada’s Military Industry is Slated to Gather

Access to the ‘Best Defence Conference’ at RBC Place Has Been Entirely Shut Down—As Protestors Seek to Expose Canada’s Role in Arming Israel’s Genocide and Fueling Global War Profiteering

PHOTOS/VIDEOS: Click here (photos and videos will be added on a rolling basis throughout the day)

LONDON, ON – Happening now, protesters from across Ontario are blocking all access to the Best Defence Conference, one of Canada’s leading arms and “defence innovation” trade shows, hosted at RBC Place in London.

The shutdown comes as Israel continues to break the ceasefire and enact its genocidal assault on Gaza—where bombardments, starvation, and the total blockade of food and medicine have pushed millions to the brink of survival. Palestinian bodies are being returned to their families bearing signs of torture, thousands remain imprisoned without charge, and Israeli drones hover constantly over Gaza and Lebanon. Amid this ongoing violence, Canadian corporations are deepening their role in the global war economy.

Demonstrators have formed blockades at multiple entrances, blocking conference participants from entering the facility. The action, organized by a cross-Ontario coalition of anti-war organizers, demands an immediate two-way arms embargo on Israel and an end to Canada’s planned military ramp up and ongoing role in fueling war and occupation around the world.

“Stop Arming Israel. Shut Down the War Machine.”

The Best Defence Conference markets itself as a showcase for “innovation,” “technology,” and “security.” In truth, it’s where wars and Canadian military projects are designed, funded, and sold. Among this year’s sponsors and exhibitors are Elbit Systems, Lockheed Martin, General Dynamics, Hensoldt, Saab, and Airbus—companies producing Israel’s F-35s, drones, missiles, and surveillance systems used to bomb schools, hospitals, and refugee camps in Gaza.

“This is where the war machine reproduces itself,” said Rachel Small of World BEYOND War. “Behind every handshake and every deal inside these doors are children buried in Gaza, prisoners tortured in Israeli jails, families displaced in Sudan, and minerals forcibly extracted in the Congo. They call it ‘defence.’ We call it organized violence.”

Canada’s Complicity in Global Militarism

From Palestine to the Philippines, Canadian companies and government agencies are integral to a global network of arms manufacturing and militarized research. Through programs like Innovation for Defence Excellence and Security (IDEaS) and FedDev Ontario, public money flows to corporations developing surveillance tools, targeting systems, and weapons components for war zones around the world.

“Canada isn’t just a bystander — it’s a supplier,” said David Heap with People for Peace London. “Canadian companies like Calian, Gastops, General Dynamics Canada, and Nexeya are directly enabling Israel’s genocide. But this isn’t only about Gaza. It’s about dismantling the entire war economy that profits off the destruction of human life everywhere, and replacing it with a peace economy that builds what our society actually needs—like green public transport and housing.”

“From Turtle Island to Palestine: War Crimes Start Here”

Protesters emphasized that Canada’s militarism is inseparable from its colonial foundations. Weapons and surveillance technologies tested on Palestinians are mirrored in the policing, resource extraction, and displacement faced by Indigenous peoples across Turtle Island.

“As Gaza burns and Lebanon trembles under constant surveillance drones, the same militarized systems target Indigenous land defenders here on Turtle Island,” said Small. “The same system that arms Israel also arms the RCMP, guards pipelines, and militarizes our borders. It’s one machine fueled by public money, driven by private greed, and protected by police. Shutting down the Best Defence Conference is about ending that cycle everywhere.”

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