By Shut Down CANSEC, May 28, 2026

Hundreds of protesters gathered early this morning to demonstrate against Canada’s biggest arms fair, CANSEC, and the world’s biggest weapons manufacturers that it hosts. Lockheed Martin, Elbit Systems, General Dynamics, BAE Systems, RTX Corporation (Raytheon), and Northrop Grumman are just some of the hundreds of exhibitors at CANSEC whose weapons and technology are linked with genocide, war crimes, and rights abuses globally.

We are still going strong. We’re here in solidarity with everyone who has faced down the barrel of a gun, had their home destroyed by a missile, seen loved ones killed by the drones and tanks and artillery made by companies inside this marketplace of violence. SHUT DOWN CANSEC. pic.twitter.com/2BmSztOVMO

— World BEYOND War Canada (@WBWCanada) May 28, 2026

“Today’s demonstration was never just about a two-day trade show. CANSEC represents the global architecture that makes it possible to generate profit from war, occupation, and mass murder. The companies who literally have weapons on display get to hear procurement plans from state representatives. These deals are death sentences – there is no other way to see this event,” shared a Shut Down CANSEC organizer.

The Shut Down CANSEC 2026 campaign recently announced that all charges have been dropped against protesters who were arrested in 2025 protesting the same event. Charges included: mischief/obstruction of property, intimidation by blocking or obstructing a highway, obstructing/resisting an officer, having a face mask, and having the intent to resist arrest.

Twelve Canadians were held in Israeli detention and subject to physical and psychological abuse following the interception of the Global Sumud Flotilla. The Israeli military, which carried out the illegal kidnapping, detention, and torture of those Canadian activists and hundreds of others, is supplied by the biggest weapons companies in the world – many of which were present at CANSEC.

“Instead of upholding international law, the Canadian government is helping connect states including Israel as they commit a genocide and with the help of taxpayer money to 300+ suppliers of weapons,” says Shut Down CANSEC. “It’s safer to produce and sell weapons designed for mass death than it is to call for companies like Elbit to stop arming a genocide.”

The protest against the weapons fair took place after nearly 1,000 days of genocide perpetrated by the State of Israel with arms shipments that have continued to flow from 51 countries, including Canada.

In an open letter, Shut Down CANSEC made the following demands:

1. End the Canada-Israel Free Trade Agreement and all economic, diplomatic and cultural ties with Israel including blocking Israel from CANSEC
2. Impose a complete and immediate 2-way arms embargo on all weapon transfers to and from Israel including closing the loophole for arms exports from Canada to the U.S. that allows Canadian weapons to reach Israel via the U.S.
3. Defund the Canadian Association of Defence & Security Industries; and,
4. End the criminalization of peaceful protests against genocide and occupation

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A post shared by Brent Patterson (@christopher_brentpatterson)

About Shut Down CANSEC Shut Down CANSEC is a grassroots coalition organizing a mass mobilization against CANSEC. The Shut Down CANSEC 2026 campaign is endorsed by 65+ organizations including Just Peace Advocates, Labour Against the Arms Trade, International Migrants Alliance, the International League of People’s Struggle – Canada, the Palestinian Youth Movement – Ottawa, Labour for Palestine, Independent Jewish Voices – Ottawa, CODEPINK Ontario, Desarma Madrid, World BEYOND War, the Sudan Solidarity Collective, the Latin American and Caribbean Solidarity Network, and the Global Sumud Flotilla

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