By Nick Mottern, World BEYOND War, December 24, 2025
Four defendants charged with trespass and disturbing the peace in connection with their March 19, 2025 protest in the lobby of the Northampton branch of weapons maker L3Harris Technologies, were found not responsible by Northampton District Court Judge Mary Beth Ogulewicz in a written decision released Monday.
The verdict follows a December 18, 2025 hearing on the charges, attended by more than 75 supporters, in which the defendants raised what is known as the “necessity” defense, arguing that their actions were justified by the urgency of demanding that L3Harris stop shipping weapons to the Israeli military that are being used to kill Palestinian civilians in the ongoing genocide against the Palestinian people.
Judge Ogulewicz’ decision was delivered in a single sentence: “After consideration of the testimony, exhibits, applicable law and arguments of counsel, I find the defendants Not Responsible on all counts.”
Jaime Rogers, the defendants’ lawyer, said that “Not Responsible” is a legal term used in a civil case that is the equivalent of “innocent” or “not guilty.”
The case and the verdict are highly unusual for several reasons. First, Judge Ogulewicz converted the charges from criminal to civil offenses, with lower penalties, saying that the allegations against the Defendants did not merit criminal prosecution. In addition, the Judge allowed the necessity defense to be raised and argued at the hearing. Finally, victory in the use of the necessity defense in protest cases is extraordinarily rare.
The defendants’ case was buttressed by affidavits written on their behalf by:
- Josh Paul, former U.S. State Department official who resigned in October 2023 over the illegal shipment of U.S. weapons to Israel; Co-director of A New Policy.
- Noam Perry, weapons investigator, American Friends Service Committee, former intelligence analyst for the Israeli Defense Forces.
- Christian Sorenson, author of “Understanding the War Industry”, Associate Director of the Eisenhower Media Network
- Stellan Vinthagen, Inaugural Endowed Chair in the Study of Nonviolent Direct Action and Civil Resistance, University of Massachusetts Amherst.
- Timmon Wallis – Executive Director of Nuclear Ban USA.
Comments by the defendants:
Trish Gallagher:
“L3H earns huge profits making weapons of war. We think this is blood money. The goal of our act of civil disobedience was to persuade L3H to stop making a killing on killing.”
Priscilla Lynch:
“We pushed for a jury trial because we believed that a jury of our peers would share our horror at what was and is happening in Gaza with weapons from L3 Harris and would share the belief in the necessity of our actions. In fact, the 75 or so “jury of our peers,” present in the courtroom and overflowing into hallway confirmed our belief. The Court’s verdict validates the necessity of our action against the perpetrators of Genocide, including L3Harris right here in Northampton.”
Nick Mottern:
“We are extremely grateful that our lawyer and the Judge understood that the real lawbreaker in this case is L3Harris Technologies, which is violating various U.S. and international laws daily to profit from the slaughter of Palestinians.”
Paki Wieland:
“The verdict gives weight to the Necessity Defense. This finding will strengthen Necessity as a stance in the future.”
The defendants entered the L3Harris lobby on the morning of March 19, 2025, with a citizens arrest warrant for L3Harris’ CEO Chris Kubasik, to demand that he and his company end their illegal complicity in the Gaza genocide. In the statement to Kubasik, the group also condemned L3Harris’ manufacture of parts for nuclear weapons and equipment used by ICE, the U.S. Border Patrol, and the Israeli government.
While one of the Defendants read the statement, the group threw play money stained with red paint around the lobby. After about 45 minutes, during which the Defendants declined to leave, all four were arrested and charged with criminal Trespass and Disturbing the Peace. The Defendants pleaded not guilty and sought a jury trial to affirm the necessity of their actions.
L3Harris Technologies Inc net income for the twelve months ending September 30, 2025 was $1.759B, a 45.73% increase year-over-year. It is reported to be the sixth largest weapons maker in the U.S. and 12th largest in the world. Its Northampton plant produces periscopes for all submarines an electronically enhanced targeting equipment for naval vessels.
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