[Opinion. Some may call nonviolent direct action lawlessness. Others may say direct action is just vandalism and not nonviolent at all. If no one was hurt, that's nonviolence. Nonviolence works, with a little encouragement for moneybags to do the right thing.]

HSBC dumps all of its shares in Elbit Systems after direct action

The AfterShock: May 8, 2026

Latest reports show HSBC dropped all of its shareholdings in Elbit Systems. This full withdrawal of shares comes after a sustained direct action campaign against the bank by People Against Genocide.

The group first targeted the bank by damaging over 10 HSBC branches on 13th December 2025, over the banks investment in Israel’s largest weapons manufacturer. Many of those actions involved throwing red paint over the branches and shattering windows, which forced the temporary closure of many of the targeted branches.

“HSBC withdrawing all of its investments in the Israeli weapons maker Elbit Systems, shows once again, that direct action works. HSBC’s withdrawal shows that direct action works and follows many other firms also making the sensible decision to cut ties with Elbit, rather than face sustained direct action.“

So, basically they knuckled under to social extortion by violent means.

That's a recipe for a better world.

6 hours ago, impulse said:

So, basically they knuckled under to social extortion by violent means.

That's a recipe for a better world.

Sorry, I missed the "violent" part. Somebody got hurt?

Sorry, I missed the "violent" part. Somebody got hurt?

It's even in your OP: The group first targeted the bank by damaging over 10 HSBC branches

A bank being pressured to divest from an oppressive regime is nothing new.

Boerclays was perhaps the first.

2 hours ago, impulse said:

It's even in your OP: The group first targeted the bank by damaging over 10 HSBC branches

IOW, nobody got hurt. Destruction of property is not violence.

IOW, nobody got hurt. Destruction of property is not violence.

You must be a lefty.

Per Columbia Law Review: In the federal criminal code, an offense qualifies as a crime of violence if it “has as an element the use, attempted use, or threatened use of physical force against the person or property of another.”

Congress.gov: In particular, Section 924(c) defines a “crime of violence” as “an offense that is a felony” that has as an element the use, attempted use, or threatened use of physical force against the person or property of another, or by its nature, involves a substantial risk that physical force against the person or property of another may be used in the course of committing the offense.

They're not just doing damage. They're also threatening additional damage if they don't get their way. Basically, it's extortion. And that's considered a violent crime, too.

It's like burning down Tesla showrooms and keying Teslas. Another lefty phenomena.

No big del really .

They just sold some shares and someone else bought the shares.

Would have no effect on Elbit at all .

This advertising will encourage pro Israelis to invest in Elbit by buying shares

1 hour ago, impulse said:

You must be a lefty.

Per Columbia Law Review: In the federal criminal code, an offense qualifies as a crime of violence if it “has as an element the use, attempted use, or threatened use of physical force against the person or property of another.”

Congress.gov: In particular, Section 924(c) defines a “crime of violence” as “an offense that is a felony” that has as an element the use, attempted use, or threatened use of physical force against the person or property of another, or by its nature, involves a substantial risk that physical force against the person or property of another may be used in the course of committing the offense.

They're not just doing damage. They're also threatening additional damage if they don't get their way. Basically, it's extortion. And that's considered a violent crime, too.

It's like burning down Tesla showrooms and keying Teslas. Another lefty phenomena.

Property, property, property. In the case of suppliers of weapons to Israel, direct nonviolent action is preventing a war crime. I absolutely support that and would participate. Banks and so on, breaking windows has never been my m.o. BTW, I'm not any kind of leftist. I'm a radical.

1 hour ago, Nick Carter icp said:

No big del really .

They just sold some shares and someone else bought the shares.

Would have no effect on Elbit at all .

This advertising will encourage pro Israelis to invest in Elbit by buying shares

Put yer money where your mouth is, Nick!

The point not to miss here is that we can all witness in the wars in Ukraine or the Gulf, that the fancy trillion dollar US heavyweight military gear is no match to swarms of cheap homemade drones.

1 hour ago, unblocktheplanet said:

Property, property, property. In the case of suppliers of weapons to Israel, direct nonviolent action is preventing a war crime. I absolutely support that and would participate. Banks and so on, breaking windows has never been my m.o. BTW, I'm not any kind of leftist. I'm a radical.

Nothing will change .

Israel will still get the weapons and the war will continue .

Throwing paint over buildings in the UK will not stop the war in Israel

Property, property, property. In the case of suppliers of weapons to Israel, direct nonviolent action is preventing a war crime. I absolutely support that and would participate. Banks and so on, breaking windows has never been my m.o. BTW, I'm not any kind of leftist. I'm a radical.

On an aside, let's look at the difference... The conservatives were mad at Bud Lite, so they quit buying Bud Lite.

The right were mad at Jaguar, so they quit buying Jaguars.

The lefties got mad at HSBC, so they damaged at least 10 of their facilities.

The lefties got mad at Elon, so they keyed Teslas, burned down charging stations and vandalized dealerships.

Do you see the pattern?

BTW, if I break your window, that's a property crime. If I threaten to keep breaking your window until I get what I want, that's violence. And frankly, a temper tantrum. Not to mention, a felony.

Boycotts, not so much.

Edited June 30Jun 30 by impulse

27 minutes ago, impulse said:

On an aside, let's look at the difference... The conservatives were mad at Bud Lite, so they quit buying Bud Lite.

The right were mad at Jaguar, so they quit buying Jaguars.

The lefties got mad at HSBC, so they damaged at least 10 of their facilities.

The lefties got mad at Elon, so they keyed Teslas, burned down charging stations and vandalized dealerships.

Do you see the pattern?

BTW, if I break your window, that's a property crime. If I threaten to keep breaking your window until I get what I want, that's violence. And frankly, a temper tantrum. Not to mention, a felony.

Boycotts, not so much.

I see a pattern.

You engaging in your customary nonsense of claiming the actions of a tiny minority on the whole of the left.

2 hours ago, impulse said:

It's even in your OP: The group first targeted the bank by damaging over 10 HSBC branches

2 hours ago, impulse said:

It's even in your OP: The group first targeted the bank by damaging over 10 HSBC branches

2 hours ago, Nick Carter icp said:

Nothing will change .

Israel will still get the weapons and the war will continue .

Throwing paint over buildings in the UK will not stop the war in Israel

You're right that Izzy won't even notice. But actions such as these galvanise public opinion, in both ways. As long as the issue is out there, gives people a chance to change their minds.

when will the euurotrash governments stop buying weapons from israel? they dont need the best lol.