photo by Guarionex Delgado
Six military veterans were among 13 people arrested at Beale Air Force Base in Marysville, California early in the morning of April 29. They were attempting to deliver an indictment charging President Obama, the Beale base commander, drone pilots and others with “crimes against peace and crimes against humanity.”
All 13 demonstrators were handcuffed and taken into custody about 8 a.m. They were released two hours later with misdemeanor charges, and are to appear in U.S. District Court. If convicted, they face up to six months in prison.
The Veterans Spring Days Drone Action temporarily blocked traffic at the two busiest gates entering Beale Air Force Base, the home to Global Hawk surveillance drones and 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 of thousands of innocent civilians.
This is the largest number of people arrested in a single action at Beale Air Force Base to date. Dozens have been arrested protesting drones at Beale Air Force Base in the past year, including more than a dozen people on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday this year. Three federal trials have been held, and earlier this month a lone protester was found not guilty in U.S. Court in Sacramento.
The Indictment says, in part:
“WE, THE PEOPLE, CHARGE THE UNITED STATES PRESIDENT, BARACK OBAMA AND THE FULL MILITARY CHAIN OF COMMAND INCLUDING COMMANDER COLONEL PHILLIP A. STEWART, EVERY DRONE CREW, AND SERVICE MEMBER AT BEALE AIR FORCE BASE WITH CRIMES AGAINST PEACE & CRIMES AGAINST HUMANITY, WITH VIOLATIONS OF THE SUPREME LAW OF THE LAND, EXTRAJUDICIAL KILLINGS, VIOLATION OF DUE PROCESS, WARS OF AGGRESSION, VIOLATION OF NATIONAL SOVEREIGNTY, AND KILLING OF INNOCENT CIVILIANS…”
NAMES OF THOSE ARRESTED (asterisk next to veterans’ names)
Cathy Webster (Chico, age 68)
Devan Phenix (Grass Valley, age 42)
*Barry Binks (Sacramento, age 74)
*John Reiger (Sacramento)
*Richard Gilchrist (Arcata)
*Ted Sexauer (Sonoma)
Shirley Osgood (Grass Valley, 66)
Pamela Osgood (Grass Valley)
*Michael Kerr (Bay Point, age 65)
Bev Fitzpatrick (Fresno, 66)
Fred Bialy (El Cerrito, age 61)
Catherine Hourcade (Stockon, age 66)
*Cres Vellucci (Sacramento, 65)