Representatives from local anti-war organizations including Madison Area Democratic Socialists of America and Students for Justice in Palestine UW-Madison gathered outside of the Monona Terrace Wednesday to protest the National Space & Missile Materials Symposium.
The NSMMS is being held from June 24 to June 27 at Monona Terrace, hosting representatives from companies including Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman and Boeing, according to the event website. The Badger Herald could not independently confirm the content of the symposium.
The NSMMS comes two months after the two-week pro-Palestine Library Mall encampment protest. The encampment came to an end when protesters and officials from UW came to an agreement.
Protesters started by gathering outside the Monona Terrace’s rooftop entrance. A speaker from SJP condemned the symposium, saying the event should not have been held in Madison.
“There is a conference going on for a lot of engineers of various sorts, but primarily for the war profiteering kind,” the SJP speaker said. “These people get paid to design more efficient ways to kill people including children and civilians.”
Protesters then moved directly outside the terrace entrance, where five police officers were gathered inside. The protesters then read off names of children who were killed in Gaza in a die-in demonstration.
The protesters then moved outside city hall to express frustration with Madison elected officials for hosting the symposium.
The frustration stems from the adoption of a City Council resolution calling for a ceasefire in Gaza Dec. 5, 2023.
A representative from Madison Against War Profiteers read a letter sent to Madison City officials decrying the decision to host the symposium. The speaker said Madison legislators must be held accountable.
“Our city leadership has decided to support this conference that goes exactly against the spirit of ceasefire that they have said they support,” a MAWP speaker said.
City of Madison Communications Manager Dylan Brogan said Madison supports peaceful protests.
Brogan also said the content of events held at the Monona Terrace are independent of the city’s position.
“Monona Terrace hosts over 500 events each year. Event space is rentable to any person, business, or organization that can fulfill the terms of our lease,” Brogan said. “The content at events and views and opinions of clients who rent space at Monona Terrace is their own.”
