Art & Rebellion, a Santa Cruz-based self-described resistance group staged a peaceful theatrical protest at Pacific Scientific Energetic Materials Company in Hollister Thursday.
Garbed in brilliant colors, goofy hats, glittery jackets, bright red noses, curly wigs, and waving umbrellas, batons and plungers, the cast of clowns, in a circus-like roadside production, brought a message to the facility that has been linked to manufacturing components for MK-80 series bombs used by Israel in repeated airstrikes on Gaza.
Organizers said the action—called “Water Balloon Uprising”—was a symbolic response to the use of U.S.-linked munitions in densely populated areas including hospitals, schools, and refugee camps.
Although the bombs are restricted by U.S. military guidelines for use near civilian populations, they have been used in Gaza with impunity and U.S. backing, organizers said.
The company, headquartered in Chandler, Ariz., did not immediately respond to a call for comment.
On their website, they say they manufacture detonators, laser firing units and pyrotechnic igniters, among other things.
The clowns used a tub full of colored water balloons to “serve as a disarming visual metaphor— a nonviolent counterpoint to the deadly payloads exported from within Rep. Jimmy Panetta’s congressional district.”
Brent Adams of Art & Rebellion said, “War profiteering has no place in our communities—even when it hides in ‘liberal’ districts like ours.”
He added that the group aims to highlight how bomb suppliers are embedded across nearly every congressional district to secure bipartisan compliance with militarized foreign policy, regardless of public sentiment.
Art & Rebellion says it is a grassroots group that uses symbolic performance, direct action and art to inspire action for justice and peace.
“We are here to issue a complaint to the operators and owners of the Pacific Scientific Energetic Materials Company,” Adams said. “We come to you not as politicians or pundits but clowns—yes clowns—representing the creative, peaceful heart of humanity in a time of world collapse.”
Adams added that the components manufactured at the plant have been identified in the destruction of hospitals, schools, refugee camps, residential towers and entire neighborhoods in Gaza.
“You, here in Hollister, are a link in that chain of devastation. We are not here to threaten you, but to expose your role,” he said. “You are a war profiteer, operating in a quiet town.”
How many did you count Tarmo ?
Looked like thousands to me
THE PEOPLE OF HOLLISTER NEED TO REALIZE THAT THEIR FACILITY IS DIRECTLY RESPONSIBLE FOR THE ARMAGEDDON IN GAZA. YOU DO NOT NEED TO FAVOR JUDAISM OR ISLAM TO KNOW THIS IS JUST PLAIN WRONG AND EVIL. Both Netanyahu and the leaders of Hamas need to be in jail in THE HAGUE , Netherlands, in a jail cell, to await their trial for crimes against humanity. and Dave, you need to grow up and do some reading.
Armageddon happened when Sleepy Joe stole the election.
Most of PSEMC’s employees are blue collar people trying to pay their bills and its one of the largest employers in town. The real clowns are the government enabling this behavior and these folks for even wasting their time.
Talk to your lawmakers, not victims of capitalism trying to keep their families fed.
Steve, at least you understand Hamas are the evil behind the whole mess in Gaza, shielding behind the civilian population, going underground while the general population is left topside…