Several people were arrested by Middletown police Monday morning after they chained themselves together and blocked entrances to the Pratt & Whitney plant.
The people were protesting the Israel-Hamas war and specifically Pratt & Whitney’s involvement in the production of F-35 fighter jets purchased by Israel. The defense contractor provides engines used in the jets.
Social media images from the scene showed several people blocking a road outside the plant. Police say protesters also placed a vehicle across a road to prohibit workers from entering or leaving the Pratt & Whitney campus.
A total of 10 people were arrested and charged with disorderly conduct, according to Middletown police.
The protesters say Pratt & Whitney is providing the means for Israel to commit genocide in Gaza.
Pratt & Whitney did not respond to a request for comment.
One of the protesters, Eamon Ormseth, says Connecticut residents do not want to be complicit in the war.
“They're being produced right here in the heart of Connecticut," said Ormseth, who was not arrested. "And so we're here to say that we don't want this blood on our hands.”
The Connecticut protest took place on the same day as several protests were held across the U.S., calling for an end to the war in Gaza. Protesters stopped traffic in Philadelphia, Chicago and the Golden Gate Bridge in California.
Connecticut Public's Eric Aasen and Patrick Skahill contributed to this report.
