photo by Chris Nelson
from Occupy Beale Air Force Base
Nine anti-drone protesters from throughout Northern California – Redding to Stockton, Bay Area to Nevada City – were arrested in a nonviolent action at Beale Air Force Base on the morning of September 29. The group acted in solidarity with the refugees around the world who are fleeing their homes because of wars.
The peace and justice activists connected the tragic stories of the migrant crisis to U.S. policies that destabilize countries with ongoing bombing and violence and force the mass displacement and fleeing of millions of human beings. With their action, they wanted to draw attention to the serious global crisis, and demand that the U.S. government use peace and diplomacy to solve conflict. While at Beale, they publicly read some of the most recent horrifying migrant and refugee stories, detailing some of the thousands of lives lost while fleeing wars.
photo by Chris Nelson
Cited for federal trespass after crossing the line into the base were Barry Binks, Catherine Hourcade, Cathy Webster, Doug Bennett, Toby Blome, Mauro Oliveira, Chris Nelson, Pamela and Shirley Osgood. The arrestees are members of Veterans for Peace, Bay Area Code Pink, the Nevada City/Grass Valley Peace and Justice Center and the Chico Peace and Justice Center.
Since 2009, northern California activists have maintained monthly 2-day protests at Beale Air Force Base in attempts to change U.S. policy that perpetuates endless global wars and targeted killing by drones. Calling themselves “Occupy Beale Air Force Base,” some of them have been arrested several times a year, while peacefully demonstrating the wrongfulness of drone killing and perpetual warfare. In the last couple of years, those arrested have been cited and released without charges being pressed. However, this month 27 court letters were sent, ordering activists to appear in court in Sacramento on October 13 for arrests stemming from three protests over the last year. The letters did not deter them from continuing their regular presence at the base.
The September 29th protest at Beale also coincides with a week of coordinated actions across the country calling for peaceful solutions to conflict. These actions are part of a long-term movement called “Campaign Nonviolence.” http://www.paceebene.org/programs/campaign-nonviolence/
Occupy Beale will return to Beale Air Force Base on October 19 and 20 honoring Indigenous Rights and the Day of the Dead, in loving honor of all those killed as a result of U.S. wars. All are encouraged to join them, and to connect with them on Facebook (at Occupy Beale Air Force Base) or online at www.OccupyBealeAFB.org.