"Not In our name" seeks to stop war

From Northern Ireland, to Lebanon “Not in Our name” transcends all the political borders giving an account of how nine men were able to fight for a country across their continent.

• Colm Bryce, Gary Donnelly, Kieran Gallagher, Michael Gallagher, Sean Heaton, Jimmy Kelly, Eamonn McCann,Paddy McDaid and Eamonn O'Donnell call themselves the Raytheon 9.
• They decided to go against the law to make justice by storming in a Raytheon arms factory in Derry, Northern Ireland , during the Israeli Military campaign against Lebanon. ( 12th of August 2006)

The poignant movie premiered on the 30th of November in London by Renegade Films, succeeds in sending a wide political message to the audience about civil action. 

Featuring interviews from Tony Benn, president of Stop the War Coalition and political activist and actor Mark Steel "Not in Our name"depicts the story of how a group of men were determined to take actions and stop the war crimes in the Middle East. 

No to Raytheon in Derry

Raytheon Company , a major American defense contractor, known to be one of the largest producers of arms and guided missiles opened its office in Springtown, Derry in 1999 and has been widely opposed since. 

The film shows police footage of how the nine men stormed into the plant throwing computers and papers away from the windows of the building, hanging signs such as “Raytheon has been now Decommissioned”.

The men's message was to take a stand against the company that was believed to have a practical impact on the civilian casualties and atrocities happening at the same time in Lebanon.

Standing up for Lebanon

The Raytheon 9 say in fact, that a Raytheon Guided Bomb Unit was used in the Israeli air strike on July 30, 2006 against the South Lebanese village, Qana. 

The attack targeted a three story building causing the death of civilians who were mostly children.

 Although archives footage of the atrocities of the Lebanon war was shown those strong images were wisely emphasizing the men’s cause.

Motivated by their fight against war, the nine men visited the village of Qana. The film shows a moving and a life changing experience to the audience.

 Through the men's eyes we witness the damages of the war hear the experience by meeting with the families of the victims.

The Raytheon 9 were arrested for 36 hours and put on trial charged of unlawful assembly and aggravated burglary but were later released.

 “You have no moral obligation to obey a law that doesn’t go with your belief,” said Colm Ryce at the London Premiere screening, recalling what the judge had told them after the verdict.

(Photo By Randa El Tahawy)