Three men arrested at Iowa drone command center

Posted on June 11, 2017

Photo by Aaron Jorgensen-Briggs

Report on arrests

at drone command center

from Frank Cordaro

Our numbers remain small. A total of seven folks showed up at 4 p.m. on Saturday, June 10 for the fourth Saturday “Stop the Killing, Shut it Down” vigil/picket line/direct action Des Moines Catholic Worker and Veterans for Peace campaign. The Guard security and Des Moines police were prepared. The gate at the main entrance was already shut when we arrived at 10 a.m.

As we’ve done before, all seven of us gathered at the closed gate. The Guard security began reading directives over their outdoor sound system, telling everyone to leave or be arrested. We all hugged Al Burney and Mark Kenney who were up to risking arrest. 
 This was Des Moines Catholic Worker and Veterans for Peace member Al Burney’s second arrest. Last week Al was in court for his first arrest, pled guilty and was fined.  See https://groups.google.com/forum/#!topic/national-cw-e-mail-list/hCguo6ykLU8
Mark Kenney from Omaha, Nebraska, a member of Veterans for Peace and long time friend and resister, was also risking arrest with Al.

Photo by Aaron Jorgensen-Briggs

 As the four of us were leaving the gate area and a Des Moines policeman was coming out of the gate entrance, the police officer called me back to him. I went back to see what the officer wanted. He told me I was under arrest for violating my recent May 27th “ban and bar” letter.  A dumb arrest on my part.

Lesson learned in the process. Once you get a “ban and bar letter”, don’t go to the gate as a support person, unless you’re willing to be arrested, too.

All three of us have a June 20, 9 a.m. court  appearance at the Polk County Justice Center, 222 5th Ave., Des Moines, Iowa.

Burney, Kenney and Cordaro’s arrest is part of a campaign started in May by the Des Moines Catholic Workers and Vets for Peace to draw attention to the mission and work of the Iowa Guard Drone Command Center on the south side of Des Moines.  The Des Moines Catholic Workers and Vet’s for Peace claim the Iowa Guard Drone Center is an active “War Zone”, participating in assassinating so called “bad guys” and killing women and children in the Middle East from space. 

The Des Moines Catholic Worker and the Des Moines Veterans for Peace intend to continue their vigil/picket line presence – during the weekdays at the entrance of the Command Center, and every Saturday at 4 p.m. for weekly rallies and direct action witnesses.  

Photo by Aaron Jorgensen-Briggs

Call ahead of time for details, days and times – and stay tuned, we’ve only just begun…

For more information contact:
Frank Cordaro, Des Moines Catholic Worker
frank.cordaro@gmail.com  
515.490.2490
Aaron Jorgensen-Briggs, Des Moines Catholic Worker
flotson@gmail.com
347 204 3411
June 10, 2017 – Photos: Al Burney, Mark Kenney and Frank Cordaro arrested, cited and released at Iowa Guard Drone Command Center. Photos by Aaron Jorgensen.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/frank_cordaro_and_the_dm_catholic_worker/albums/72157681889520264

Photo by Aaron Jorgensen-Briggs