Gatecrashers Ball Marred by Chaotic Policing and 3 Arrests
Leeds IMC | 07.07.2003 22:00 | Anti-militarism | Free Spaces | Globalisation
There is an appeal for witnesses.
Official and unoffical flags outside Menwith Hill spy base.
On Friday 4 July, as millions of Americans celebrated 'Independence Day', thousands of citizens across the UK held their own parties at US military bases (Fairford, Plymouth 1, 2, 3) as part of 'Independence from America Day'.
One of the main events was the 'Gatecrashers Ball' held at the US’s Menwith Hill Spy Base, near Harrogate in North Yorkshire, and hosted by the Campaign for the Accountability of American Bases (CAAB). In beautiful weather, between 400 and a 1000 people attended the good-natured, musical, peaceful protest party in imaginative ball gowns and masks, and top hats and tails.
However, as usual, chaotic policing led to three arrests and the walk around the base being curtailed. Police also closed off the public footpath for no stated reason. One of the arrestees was detained for 'assaulting a police officer' whilst apparently trying to protect his partner from pushy police. Another was chased and arrested for refusing to remove their mask, and the third arrest was for trespass.
There is an appeal for witnesses.
The demonstration was reluctantly ended at about 7.30 pm.
CAAB have issued a statement damning the policing of the event and other reports have commented on the intimidatory display of guns. Reports: (1), (2), (3); pics (1), (2).
Leeds IMC
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CAAB timeline of events
19.07.2003 18:11
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10:10 One of the organisers of the protest was asked
to remove his T-shirt by officer 582 on the ground
that the wording was offensive. The T-shirt stated
“Fuck Bush”
2:10 When the march round the base had started it was
blocked by police vans and mounted officers. Some of
the mounted officers were observed with no identifying
markings, when asked what their identifying number was
they refused to give any comment.
2:15 One man was arrested for having his face covered
(note: the police are allowed to order the removal of
face coverings and arrest people for non compliance
but only if certain rules are activated by police in
protest situations. This activation needs to be
announced by the police, preferably before the
protest, this was not done here).
2:55 Protestors were observed walking along side the
perimeter fence, these were guarded by police on both
sides of the fence.
3:00 The protest march reverses direction and heads
towards the front gate again.
3:20 A public right of way was blocked by police. This
was later contended and protestors were allowed to
walk along the footpath.
3:30 Policeman 661 lost control of his horse which
backed into two protestors, pinning them against a
parked car. The horses back right fetlock had exposed
nails, an extra danger if control was seriously lost.
In all 3 people were said to have been arrested, 2 for
not revealing their faces and one for assaulting a
police office (where he knocked a policeman’s helmet
off while the policeman in question was roughly
handling him)
tom f