Beale: Main Gate Blockaded 4 Hours, 9 Arrested, as Peace Activists Protest US Killer Drones

Contact:
Toby Blome, 510-508-1020 ratherbenyckeling@comcast.net www.occupybealeafb.org
Pamela Osgood, 941-735-8865 pamelaosgood@att.net
Shirley Osgood, 941-320-0291 slogood481@hotmail.com www.occupybealeafb.org

Main Gate Blockaded 4 Hours, Nine People
Arrested at Beale AFB Tuesday After Vets,
Peace Activists Protest US Killer Drones

BEALE AFB (Marysville), Ca. – After blocking the main gate for more than four hours, nine (9) military veterans and peace activists from throughout California were arrested around Noon Tuesday here at Beale AFB protesting the inhumane and cruel U.S. Drone Program, killing thousands of innocent men, women and children around the world. The 'Beale 9' were cited for trespassing. Court proceedings are pending.

More photos at: "9 Arrested for Blocking Gate of Beale AFB to Protest Drone Strikes" on the Occupy Sacramento website.

About 100 activists from as far away as Fresno, the SF Bay Area, Sacramento, Nevada City/Grass Valley and other California cities unfurled large banners and carried model drones and large photos of child victims of drone strikes to show the dark side of drone warfare.

Beale AFB has been a target of anti-drone protests for years. Beale AFB is home to the U2 and the Global Hawk, the unmanned surveillance drone that is an "accomplice" in drone killings.

There have been a series of direct actions leading to arrests this year protesting President Obama's use of drones, most recently at Hancock Air Base near Syracuse, NY last Thursday, where 17 were arrested.

Activists demanded: (1) An immediate ban on the use of all drones for extrajudicial killing (2) A halt all drone surveillance that assaults basic freedoms and inalienable rights and terrorizes domestic life in Pakistan, Afghanistan, Iraq, Yemen and Somalia (3) A prohibition on the sale, and distribution of drones and drone technology to foreign countries in order to prevent the proliferation of this menacing threat to world peace, freedom and security and (4) The U.S. must immediately stop this lawless behavior of drone warfare that violates many international laws and treaties.

"US military and CIA Drone attacks have killed thousands of innocent civilians, including women and children, in the Middle East, Somalia, Pakistan, and Afghanistan. In the name of combating terrorism against the U.S. we are terrorizing innocent people, and creating many more enemies and potential terrorists in the process," said a statement issued by Veterans for Peace, Code Pink, Chico Peace and Justice Center, Nevada County Peace Center, Peace Fresno, WILPF and World Can't Wait.

"Our government has become lawless powers, acting as judge, jury and executioner, just because they can. They use remote-controlled drones to kill women in their kitchens, elders meeting in their jirgas, mourners at funerals, and rescuers who try to help the wounded. By most independent studies, the vast majority of those killed are civilians," said Toby Blome, of CodePink's Peace Delegation to Pakistan.

"When I learned about what we are doing with drones...killing innocent civilians, and see the faces of dead children and their mourners, I find the passion to do something. That's why I'm taking some action at Beale," said Shirley Osgood, Occupy Nevada County and Nevada County Peace Center and Nevada County Green.