Thursday, August 21, 2014

September 29/30 - Stop the Drones! at Beale


STOP THE DRONES!

Drones allow aggressors to destroy targets killing suspects extra-judicially including children & innocent people from a computer thousands of miles away! They can spy intimately on anyone including domestic surveillance or commit assassinations in defiance of international & US law! 50 nations now have drones – an expanding insane proliferation.

Vigil at Beale Air Force Base (north of Sacramento, CA)
Occupy Beale Event, Co-Sponsored by Campaign Nonviolence
Date: September 29 - 30, 2014
Time: 3:00 p.m. - 8:00 a.m.
Organizer: Sherri Maurin
Venue: Beale Air Force Base
City: Beale AFB, CA


PLEASE WEAR TURQUOISE BLUE SCARVES

Monday & Tuesday– September 29th & 30th

Monday 3:00 - 5:00 p.m.:  Wheatland Gate, S. Beale Rd., (call organizers or check OccupyBeale website to confirm location; subject to change)

Monday, 5:30 p.m.:  Anti-Drone Encampment & Potluck, Main Gate, N. Beale Rd. Campout at the main gate, or stay in local hotel. Other overnight arrangements possible.

Tuesday, 6:00 – 8:00 a.m.: Main Gate (N. Beale Rd) Vigil, Bannering, & Leafleting.


For more info. /carpooling/ or to discuss Nonviolent Direct Action opportunities:

Nevada/Yuba: Shirley 941-320-0291 slogood481@hotmail.com

Sacramento Area: Barry 916-284-0944, bbinks@comcast.net

Bay Area: Toby 510-215-5974, ratherbenyckeling@comcast.net

Campaign Nonviolence NoCal: Sherri 415-250-7986 smaurin@aol.com


This event is one of the dozens of Campaign Nonviolence actions
taking place nationwide during September, 2014, many of them
organized by groups with a strong history of protesting drones
killings and drone surveillance.
See the full list of actions nationwide.



Related posts

Perhaps the single most significant consequence of the advent of killer drones is that they allow the state to efficiently separate war-making from the emotional involvement of the people of the country using them. In other words, with the coming of drone warfare, we have been denied the opportunity for empathy with those affected by our (direct and indirect) actions.

(See Why is "Ending the military drone program" a pillar of Campaign Nonviolence?)


Beale pilots control the Global Hawk, an important surveillance and reconnaissance drone that plays an important role in finding military drone targets and coordinating information before and during drone strikes. Pilots at Beale witness the carnage and devastation of drone strikes and are complicit in the assassination program.

(See Beale: Occupy Militarism, Ground the Drones, Shut the Base Down! )


The "Veterans Spring Days Drone Action" temporarily blocked traffic at the two busiest gates entering Beale AFB, the home to Global Hawk (Surveillance drone), the U2 and the MC12 Liberty aircraft, all participants in the so-called "war on terror." They have been complicit in the deaths and injuries thousands of innocent civilians.

(See Occupy Beale AFB Update: The ultimate right is the right to life! )




In Pennsylvania, demonstrations to stop the establishment of the Drone War Command Center at the Horsham Air Guard Station, outside of Philadelphia, have been going on monthly. There will be a protest on September 27, 2014, in conjunction with the Campaign Nonviolence week of actions.

(See September 27 - Stop Drone War Command Center at Horsham )

Wednesday, August 20, 2014

Aug. 25-26: Occupy Beale AFB Stands With GAZA

Occupation is a Crime, From Afghanistan to Palestine

OCCUPY BEALE AFB.....Monthly resistance to Drone Warfare & Global Militarization
Join activists throughout Northern California
Aug. 25, Monday, 3pm-5pm, Wheatland Gate, S. Beale Rd. and Ostrom Rd.
Mon. Night Encampment, Main Gate, end of N. Beale Rd.
Aug. 26, Tuesday, 6-8am, Main Gate, end of N. Beale Rd.

Sign up on Facebook.

Wear Black clothing, to memorialize the lost lives from the recent assaults on GAZA.
Women in Black will be joining us! Nonviolent Direct Action planned.....see below!



Protesters at the Port of Oakland oppose Israeli Apartheid and violence in Gaza.


The global resistance to Israeli Apartheid is growing. Locally, a diverse group of activists blocked the Israeli Zim ship at the Oakland Port for 5 days!...ultimately causing it to return to the sea with only a small percentage of its cargo unloaded. It cost Israel hundreds of thousands of dollars! Now Tacoma and LA are joining the campaign....planning to block other Israeli Zim ships this weekend! The BDS campaign is expanding as the missiles on GAZA continue to slaughter civilians and destroy homes. Please join us this month as we bring the truth about Palestine to Beale AFB, and be a voice against the brutality of the "American/Israeli Military Industrial Complex".

Please read Sharon Delgado's call for direct action
Justice in Palestine and No Drone Warfare anywhere......
Drone Free World, from GAZA to Pakistan!


Hello Friends,

I know some of you are planning to join us at Beale for the demonstration against drones and militarism on Mon, August 25 and/or Tues, August 26 at Beale Air Force Base. This month we will focus on the Israeli drones and other high-tech weapons that have killed so many civilians, U.S. military aid to Israel, and the U.S. drone warfare program. We will wear black in honor of the "Women in Black" movement that began in Palestine, and has spread around the world.

The main gate of Beale on Tuesday morning would be a great place for a nonviolent direct action, if any of you feel ready to step across the line as a public witness against US military support for Israel. Recently, people who cross the line at Beale for the first time do bring publicity to the issues but do not get a citation and do not have to appear in court. Those who are "repeat offenders" (like me) do have to go to court to answer to charges of "trespass." Those of us who have been found guilty previously have been sentenced to 10 hours of community service. Our next arraignment (of 15 or so of us) will be on September 9.

I would be honored to offer a nonviolence training if any two or more people would like to take this step. Email me directly and we will set up a time.

We will be at the Wheatland Gate at 3 p.m. on Monday, and the Main Gate at 6 a.m. on Tuesday. See directions below. The Main Gate is about 35 to 40 minutes from Grass Valley, Wheatland a little longer.

Hope to see you there.

For Peace (with Justice),

Sharon



Related posts

Occupy Beale Event, Co-Sponsored by Campaign Nonviolence - September 29 - 30, 2014

(See September 29/30 - Stop the Drones! at Beale )










Beale pilots control the Global Hawk, an important surveillance and reconnaissance drone that plays an important role in finding military drone targets and coordinating information before and during drone strikes. Pilots at Beale witness the carnage and devastation of drone strikes and are complicit in the assassination program.

(See Beale: Occupy Militarism, Ground the Drones, Shut the Base Down! )



The "Veterans Spring Days Drone Action" temporarily blocked traffic at the two busiest gates entering Beale AFB, the home to Global Hawk (Surveillance drone), the U2 and the MC12 Liberty aircraft, all participants in the so-called "war on terror." They have been complicit in the deaths and injuries thousands of innocent civilians.

(See Occupy Beale AFB Update: The ultimate right is the right to life! )

August 21 Report: Demand a Drone-Free LAPD

Follow the Coalition:

Drone-Free LAPD/No Drones, LA!: Join Us! Tuesday, September 2nd at 6:30pm for a meeting to further the campaign against LAPD’s drones! Location: LA CAN 838 E. 6th Street, Los Angeles.
Next General Coalition Meeting: Join Us! Tuesday September 16th at 6:30pm for our monthly general Coalition Meeting.  Location: TBA

Campaign Launch: Drone-Free LAPD/No Drones, LA!

On Thursday, August 21st the Stop LAPD Spying Coalition, along with the National Lawyers Guild, Restore the Fourth, Islamic Shura Council, and other groups and community members officially launched the Drone-Free LAPD/ No Drones, LA! campaign to stop the LAPD from using their recently acquired drones.  Over 40 participants  with over 20 media outlets, attended the launch which included a press conference, theatre, and a march to the Mayor’s office. The community was energized and focused, sending a clear message to the Mayor, City Hall and the LAPD Police Commission - “Angelenos reject the use of drones by the LAPD and expect the Mayor to listen and to heed to the communities’ demand.” 

On August 12th the Drone-Free LAPD/No Drones, LA! Campaign sent a letter to Mayor Eric Garcetti detailing various concerns regarding the LAPD's acquisition and proposed usage of drones. This letter requested an urgent meeting with the Mayor, however the Mayor's office stated he was too busy and could not meet with community for at least a month. With the intention to deliver a packet of information and to schedule a meeting with the Mayor, community members  marched to his office after the press conference. The LAPD, however, closed the entrance into City Hall refusing access to community members and other unaffiliated persons seeking to do business at a public facility.  A representative from the Mayor's office eventually came down to address our concerns.  We were told that our issues would be taken to the Mayor with a follow up in regards to a request for a meeting but also with an explanation as to why police officers made an indiscriminate decision to close a public building when no safety concern was present.  

To date we have not confirmed a meeting with the Mayor’s office.  
Stay tuned! 


For further information please email: stoplapdspying@gmail.com or call (424) 209-7450

Follow the Coalition: http://nodronesla.org/No_Drones,_LA!/home.html and  http://nodronesla.tumblr.com/

Will We Sleep Or Will We Fight!??!


Keep LAPD DRONE FREE!
FOLLOW: 
@noDRONESla 
@stoplapdspying
In the Media: Check out the various articles and media coverage this event generated below.
Drone Activists warn of “Mission Creep” at Downtown Rally.   Read More….
Anti-Spying Coalition Launches campaign against LAPD Drones.  Read More…
Drone-Free LAPD? Read More…
Protesters Rally at City Hall against LAPD Drones. Read More…
Drone-Free LAPD Demanded by activists. Read More…
LAPD Thinks it’s at War and Now it Has Drones.  Read More...
‘Drone-Free LAPD!’ LA residents protest police spy drones. Read More…
Backlash against Police Militarization.  Read More...
Group Against Drones. Read More...


 




See the Stop LAPD Spying website for more info.
The Stop LAPD Spying Coalition invites you to our monthly General Coalition Meeting. Join us in planning the “No Drones in LA!” campaign. Communities across the world are speaking out and taking action against Drones. They spy, they kill, they crash.

We say No to Drones in LA and need to stop LAPD’s recent acquisition of drones and make sure these drones never get off the ground in our town! Join us Tuesday July 15th at 6:30pm at the Downtown UCLA Labor Center at 675 S. Park View Ave., Los Angeles - adjacent to MacArthur Park.

Will We Sleep Or Will We Fight!??!

Join the Facebook event and invite others!


Draganflyer X6 drone


BACKGROUND

Nearly a year ago,the Seattle Police Department acquired two 3.5lbs Draganflyer X6 drones through a grant from the Department of Homeland Security. The community of Seattle actively resisted the city’s attempt to use drones in a highly fueled public hearing at the Seattle City Council with community residents chanting “No Drones!” and ”Murderers!” The public uproar over privacy rights and police spying compelled the mayor to scrap the program permanently before the drones got off the ground. However, the Canadian manufacturer who built the drones refused to take them back. This prompted Seattle to “gift” them to our Los Angeles Police Department.

It comes as no surprise that LAPD was given these drones. In fact, this is not the first time LAPD has talked about drones. Earlier in February LAPD was in Israel during their “Big Data” conference looking at drones called “Hovermast”. “Hovermast” drones can be used for spying and even crowd control.

The acquisition of these drones in the larger context of the LAPD Architecture of surveillance, spying and infiltration demonstrates the continued militarization of the LAPD. Embedded within this infrastructure is an enormous array of electronic and human surveillance programs and devices such as - Trapwire, Stingray, Hi Definition Cameras, Automatic License Plate Readers, Suspicious Activity Reporting, Special Order 1, iWATCH, Predictive Policing, and the Safer Cities Initiative.

Along with violating our basic human rights, the potential for destruction of lives and property remains high. As reported on June 23, 2014 by the Washington Post: “When Drones Fall From The Sky - more than 400 large US military drones have crashed in major accidents around the world since 2001,” highlighting “a record of calamity that exposes the potential dangers of throwing open [our] skies to drone traffic.”  [See: California: Is the Sky Falling?]

Though Chief Beck is publicly stating he is seeking community input, he never sought community input while LAPD was at the Big Data Convention in Israel admiring the use of Hovermast. Chief Beck went public claiming to arrange a meeting with the American Civil Liberties Union to quell public shock in regards to privacy violation. In an article released by L.A. Times ACLU is quoted stating they never agreed to such a formal meeting with LAPD.

The people of Los Angeles say NO! to drones too - We can’t let LA be the dumping ground for other cities. We are the community and we are not going to wait for a public hearing or for Chief Beck to speak to advocacy groups. We say: No Drones Here or Anywhere!