Hundreds of residents urge Northampton to ban weapons manufacturing, end tax breaks for L3Harris

Dozens of residents at the Northampton City Council meeting on May 1 urged the city to end tax breaks for L3Harris and to adopt a local ordinance banning weapons manufacturing.

Organizers and dozens of speakers, several of them wearing signs and arriving by a march earlier in the evening, pressed councilors to act. “Organizers and local and statewide sponsors of today’s event at L3 Harris call on the city of Northampton to cease providing tax breaks to this billion dollar weapons manufacturer. They demand a weapons ban, and they demand a swift transition to ethical local jobs and industry,” said Jen Scarlett, who identified herself as a Northampton resident and organizer during the meeting.

Speakers framed their appeals as consistent with Northampton’s recent local commitments on peace and environmental policy. Several said L3Harris manufactures parts used in overseas strikes and surveillance technologies used in immigration enforcement. Hannah Bernhard, a local resident, cited the city’s 02/2018 executive ordinance and said continuing tax breaks was “a betrayal of Northampton’s history and its people.” Other speakers, including Beth Rogers and Michael Beatty, linked the company’s products to civilian harm in Gaza and to surveillance tools used by ICE.

The matter drew sustained public attention: speakers ranged from students and teachers to veterans and health-care professionals, and multiple speakers asked the council to consider both financial steps (revoking tax incentives) and a city ordinance banning weapons production.

Councilors did not take a formal vote or adopt an ordinance at the meeting. Councilor Doves, who chairs the Ordinance Review Committee, said public proposals could be referred to that committee for consideration. Councilor Quaverly Rothenberg (Ward 3) told the meeting she has formed a Ward 3 working group to look at L3Harris-related issues and said residents may contact her for involvement.

Speakers and organizers said they will press the council to build a city-level policy that would prohibit weapons manufacturing and to pursue enforcement of the city’s existing declarations. Several called for a community meeting with L3Harris to allow public questioning of the company’s activities; Deborah Yaffe specifically urged the council to hold a community Q&A with the company.

For now, no formal legislative action was taken. Councilors and staff suggested the topic could proceed through the Ordinance Review Committee or via a council referral to draft a specific weapons ban ordinance and return it for public hearings.

Supporters left the meeting urging continued organizing and follow-up with councilors and committee chairs. Councilor Doves told the public the Ordinance Review Committee will accept suggestions and proposals; Councilor Rothenberg offered contact information for the Ward 3 working group.

Background: speakers repeatedly referenced a city-level executive ordinance from 02/2018 and Northampton’s membership in peace-oriented initiatives. Several speakers also cited past council votes and tax breaks that they said benefited L3Harris over many years.

No formal city action on L3Harris or related tax incentives was recorded at the May 1 meeting.