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New York City<\/span> markets<\/a> the Brooklyn Navy Yard as an economic hub<\/a> for minority- and women-owned small businesses.\u00a0<\/p>\n But the city-owned industrial park also leases space to two companies that provide drones and license camouflage technology allegedly used by the Israeli military.<\/p>\n Protesters have been pushing for the Navy Yard to evict the companies for over a year. New York state Sen. Jabari Brisport joined the protesters on Wednesday in calling for the companies\u2019 eviction. \u201cMark my words: They will be removed,\u201d he said outside the complex.<\/p>\n One company, Easy Aerial, produces small surveillance drone systems and drone controllers and is led by Ido Gur, a veteran of the Israeli air force. On a LinkedIn post <\/a>last year, Easy Aerial shared a post from one of its investors, the Israeli fund Cavaret Ventures, which said that the company had played \u201ca pivotal role\u201d in meeting Israel\u2019s requirements for its war on Gaza.<\/p>\n The other, Crye Precision, acknowledged in a lawsuit<\/a> that their trademarked MultiCam camouflage patterns have been used by the Israeli military, and their website for their camouflage products lists the Israeli tactical gear company Agilite as a partner, which advertises its use by the Israeli military. Last fall, a whistleblower at Crye also told Drop Site News<\/a> that the company supplied the Israeli armed forces.<\/p>\n Crye Precision denies<\/a> that it provides apparel for the Israeli military, writing in a statement that the company does not have \u201cany contracts with the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) or any Israeli manufacturers,\u201d and adding that the mention of Israel in the federal court filing<\/a> was \u201cincorrect and an oversight.\u201d The company also noted that the standard Israeli military uniform does not have a camouflage pattern. Agilite, the Israeli tactical gear manufacturer, has published many photos of Israeli soldiers wearing its helmet cover featuring Crye\u2019s MultiCam pattern on its website<\/a> and Instagram<\/a> account.<\/p>\n Easy Aerial did not respond to a request for comment.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Pro-Palestinian activists have<\/span> been pushing the Brooklyn Navy Yard Development Corporation, or BNYDC, a not-for-profit organization set up by the city whose CEO is appointed by the mayor, to evict both companies since 2024. The Demilitarize Brooklyn Navy Yard campaign<\/a> has frequently picketed at the complex, testified at BNYDC board meetings, and organized a petition signed by 115 Navy Yard workers and tenants pushing for the eviction.<\/p>\n Protesters\u2019 demands have been unmet, and the BNYDC maintains that there are no weapons manufacturers on the premises. A spokesperson for the BNYDC said the group has no legal basis to consider eviction given that neither lease regulates the particular business activities of tenants.\u00a0Companies that are tenants in the Navy Yard don\u2019t have to pay real estate taxes, and can be eligible for special incentives<\/a> that provide income tax credits and reduce regulated energy costs.<\/p>\n On Wednesday, the city development corporation decided to crack down on the protests. The BNYDC canceled public comment at a scheduled board meeting and banned activists from holding a press conference in the courtyard, which is typically open to the public during the day.<\/p>\n Denied entry, some protesters blocked an entrance to the Navy Yard. New York Police Department officers arrested eight protesters; seven were charged with obstructing governmental administration and disorderly conduct. A photographer said he was assaulted by a person affiliated with the complex; he posted a photo on Instagram of his bleeding neck, which he described as a severe laceration that needed stitches. The NYPD corroborated the photographer\u2019s account, noting that a 48-year-old man was punched in the chin by a 26-year-old man, causing a laceration. After the arrests, a crowd of more than 100 protesters chanted outside the Brooklyn Navy Yard, to the steady beat of drums and pots and pans, accompanied by an accordion, as well as some saxophones, clarinets, and trumpets.<\/p>\n Asked why press and community members couldn\u2019t enter the premises, security outside the venue cited \u201cbusiness reasons\u201d but would not elaborate. Pressed by The Intercept on what the \u201cbusiness reasons\u201d were, an activist interjected: \u201cThe business reason is that they are repressing a community who is here speaking out against genocide.\u201d A BNYDC spokesperson later explained the Building 92 courtyard was closed for security reasons.\u00a0<\/p>\n Brisport, the state senator, said in an interview that protesters\u2019 inability to give public comment or hold a press conference in a public courtyard breached their First Amendment rights and \u201cdoes not look good.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cPeople do things like this when they feel guilty,\u201d he said, referring to the BNYDC\u2019s alleged repression of speech.\u00a0<\/p>\n BNYDC officials argue that their changes to operations, including the creation of a designated area for peaceful protest by Building 77\u2019s entrance, are intended to ensure the continued safety of tenants and protesters. They accused protesters of failing to comply with requests to keep entry and exit points clear.<\/p>\n Protesters also voiced concerns around transparency. The Brooklyn Navy Yard\u2019s directory lists Crye Precision under a \u201cfashion\/accessories\u201d category and Easy Aerial under \u201carts\/photography.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIf you\u2019re bold enough to allow them to rent here, to get subsidized with our tax dollars, at least be honest.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/figure>\n \u201cIf you\u2019re bold enough to allow them to rent here, to get subsidized with our tax dollars, at least be honest,\u201d said Maisha Morales, a Fort Green resident and community advocate. The space used by these businesses could be given to Black and brown-led companies that are more reflective of the Navy Yard\u2019s creative vision, she said.<\/p>\n The BNYDC notes that its website directory relies on broad categories to help businesses collaborate, and that its descriptions are broadly accurate: Crye, in addition to designing camouflage patterns, sells its own apparel, and Easy Aerial\u2019s drones incorporate cameras.<\/p>\n Brisport said that when he communicated with Lindsay Greene, president and CEO of the Brooklyn Navy Yard, Greene appeared open to changing the designation of the businesses to make the directory more transparent, but not evicting them.\u00a0<\/p>\n Brisport said he was still pushing for eviction. He said he has been a \u201chuge supporter\u201d of the Brooklyn Navy Yard but \u201cabsolutely could not sit idly by\u201d know they hosted \u201ctwo companies complicit in the genocide.\u201d<\/p>\n F.D., who lives a mile away from Brooklyn Navy Yard and chose to go by her initials because she fears being doxed<\/a>, feels much the same way:\u00a0\u201cI can\u2019t sleep at night because I know the military supply chain of Benjamin Netanyahu\u2019s apartheid campaign reaches all the way into my backyard.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n\n