Campaign for the
Accountability of
American Bases (CAAB)
NSA Menwith Hill
Friday 19 March 2004
Organised by Yorkshire CND
supported by Trident
Ploughshares and CAAB
Weather-wise it's quite often like that at
NSA Menwith Hill - fierce winds that are strong enough to blow a
police officer's helmet off and rain that gets into your bones!
The demonstration was organised to mark
the commemoration of the invasion of Iraq - a year before.
Menwith Hill was crucial then and is crucial now in the aftermath to
the folly of the US/UK 'pre-emptive' strike against Iraq.
CAAB was present to support this
demonstration and were at the Main Gate at dawn - protesters had
arrived before to successfully blockade four of the gates at NSA
Menwith Hill. Traffic trying to get into the base was diverted
round other ways. For some time the base was 'locked down' by
demonstrators.
Among the 30 (to be confirmed) people
arrested and detained at Harrogate Police Station was Lindis Percy -
Joint Co-ordinator of CAAB. She and Anni Rainbow had decided to
support the demonstration by being legal observers and gate stewards.
They did not intend to blockade the base.
Lindis was spuriously arrested by a
Ministry of Defence Police Agency officer for allegedly obstructing
the highway after peacefully walking up and down the slip road
carrying an upside down American flag with the words 'Independence
FROM America' written on it, as cars drove into the base. She
was closely videoed all the time and heard one officer say "I
think we've got enough'. She was held for about four and a half
hours, not charged but was released on bail to return to
Harrogate Police Station on 7 April.
The alleged offence is almost identical to
the incident which came to court about a month ago when she was found
not guilty by Harrogate Magistrates' Court.
Anni Rainbow and Lindis Percy
Joint Co-ordinators
CAMPAIGN FOR THE ACCOUNTABILITY OF AMERICAN BASES (CAAB)
8 Park Row, Otley, West Yorkshire, LS21 1HQ, England, U.K.
Tel/fax no: +44 (0)1943 466405 0R +44 (0)1482 702033
"Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful,
committed citizens can change the world: indeed it's the
only thing that ever does." Margaret
Mead
