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Mass blockade at Menwith Hill US base, Friday March 19th

IMC Leeds Bradford | 19.03.2004 12:00 | Anti-militarism | Sheffield

On Friday March 19th Yorkshire CND held a mass non-violent blockade at the key US military base Menwith Hill, near Harrogate, Yorkshire, UK. They blocked 3 gates completely causing tailbacks for hours and massively disturbing the shift change-over. Menwith Hill felt compelled to issue a statement which is amazing since they never, ever speak to anyone.

"BLOCK THE BASE" started in freezing driving rain by 5am in the morning with protesters who had stayed in Leeds overnight blockading the base. Many protesters were met by police waiting for them. Yet they managed to block all four gates, many locking into place. Throughout the morning the protest was joined by more people.

The shift change, between 5.30 and 7.30, was a traffic jam. Police had moved pretty fast to try and clear two gates. Reports were they were pretty brutal with dangerous use of cutting equipment. Yorkshire CND said that despite liason some of the police behaved disgracefully and there were definite cases of extreme excessive force and violence. They want as much information and pictures as possible from anyone that was there to collect evidence. [more in article]. By 7am most of the protesters at gate one had been removed and were waiting wet and cold to be arrested. In all 30 people were arrested. Others gates were still blocked. Protesters were still arriving and demonstrating all around the base.

SeeTimeline of events
Reports and Photos: [ 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 ]

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The event was part of an international weekend of action to mark the first anniversary of the attack on Iraq and also aims to highlight the base's key role in so many aspects of current US foreign policy.

The base is the largest military spy base in the world, run by the US National security Agency. It's also a key US war-fighting base (winning an award for its role in the Gulf War) and a major Star Wars base. It is one of the US's most strategically important military bases.

Many protestors stayed in free accomodation in Leeds the night before where there was a non-violence training workshop. The more festive preparations for the day music, speeches were well dampened by the appauling weather.

Timeline

9:15am: Correction. It was in fact Lindis Peircy who was arrested for walking across a road. Not Annie.
9:15am: Annie from CAAB arrested in her wheelchair for obstructing a PC.
9:00am: Police keeping the arrested cold and wet, they are not processing people.
8:00am: Just gate 3 open, all others blocked. People still locked on at gate 4
7:52am: 2 gates still blocked . Police have been particularly nasty.
7:30am: The mighty veggies catering turn up with hot tea and coffee. Fair trade and organic. Much needed. it’s so cold that people really are on the verge of hypothermia after being in the driving rain and sleet since 5am, lying on the wet ground.
7:30am: The weather is horrible, a number of people were locked on at the main gate they have been removed and arrested, there are about 50-60 people there, more are arriving.
7:30am: People start to disperse from gate 1 but the road is still blocked. Cars of base staff are queuing up on the roads around the base. Total traffic chaos, jams all around. success.
7:00am: Gate 1: Everyone who had locked on have now been taken to various police stations.
6:30am: Gate 4: 15 people locked on to each other. Gate blocked.
6:00am: Gate 1: Police have managed to uncut the protesters and start to arrest people. The police have been extremely brutal. Using cutting equipment very dangerously. Holding people down by their necks and using pressure points. There has just been a completely unnecessary level of brutality.
A huge US flag was raised on the base just as the police moved in. There were many shouts to the police of: who are you working for? Exactly which country are you serving?
5:30am: At gate 2: two people have been arrested for having a PA system in their van, despite having permission to have it there. They are arrested for intent to cause criminal damage. How do you cause criminal damage with a public address system? The P.A. is confiscated as is the van.
Other people lock on to each other at gate 2 but are quickly uncut and arrested.
5:00am: Blockade starts. There is a shift change of people working at the base between 5.30 and 7.30. There are four gates. At the main gate there are about 17 people split into three groups who have locked themselves together. Holding hands through lengths of plastic piping. The three groups are lying on the very wet ground blocking the gate. There are also about 30 other protesters at this gate and about 70 protesters at the other gates. There’s about 50 cops in 6 vans.
4:00am: Leave Leeds for Menwith Hill. The weather is grim. Driving rain, howling winds even some sleet. Extremely cold.
3:00am: People wake up, final preparations
11:00pm: 150 people discussing tactics and preparing lock on's at the convergence centre.

There is a Block the Base site. The event was organised by Yorkshire CND and had the official backing of CND, Trident Ploughshares and CAAB.

IMC Leeds Bradford
- Homepage: http://www.blockthebase.org.uk/

Comments

Hide the following 7 comments

Block that base!!!

19.03.2004 13:09

Hi,
well done to all taking part, sorry the weather conditions couldnt have been better for you! make sure to get some lemsip down ya when ya get released!! ;)
Have been talking to many Iraqis while out here and they know about actions that are taking place and have taken place in the past. I've shown them short films of actions such as Fairford weapons inspector's mass trespass at RAF/USAF Fairford and last year's Gatecrasher's Ball at Menwith on July 4th. All that have seen these films send thanks to all that are involved.
Sorry to hear about people getting nicked, especially the ridiculous story about the PA, also Anni for obstruction, but I know none of you will let such things deter you!

Hope to see you all at Menwith this year on July 4th for the 'Independence *from* America' party!!!

Love to you all from everybody at Circus2Iraq xxx

fisheye
mail e-mail: fisheye@circus2iraq.org
- Homepage: http://www.circus2iraq.org

Block those Brain Cells!!!

22.03.2004 18:53

I spent 12 years of my military career living in England at RAF Lakenheath. I love England as much as any American could do, but I do have to say that all the blocking of American bases in England is just the work of small minded bored idiots who have nothing else better to do. During my stay I lived in the local village and would rum across those CND folks camped out in the warren bordered at the base fence while walking my dog. They seemed like very nice people and I had conversations with them. It seemed they were there because they didn't have jobs or homes or a life. They just wanted to be part of a redundant movement as you folks are engaged in today. We Americans are not your enemy! Lets just forget that you all exist under the blanket of security that the US provides and the past wars that we have defended your way of life. I think the reason that the British people have become so weak is because you have been influenced by the weak nations of Europe. The Europeans are the most gutless race of people on the planet. The Germans, who are afraid of getting their asses kicked for a third time. The French who are genetically pussies, and of course the Belgians and the Nordic countries who historically have no guts for fighting. But the Brits, you people love a good fight. I have seen it. I have lived in your country for 12 years. Don't get me wrong, I love the British and Mother England. I just hope that you haven't lost your famous British tenacity.

Martin

Martin Martin Martin....

23.03.2004 15:04

Our european race!? has a much longer history of fighting amoung ourselves and running empires that your america. Let's get that straight! The Nordic countries by the way displayed an amzing underground resistance to the nazis during world war two, so get off you high horse! As for the french well, ok traditional enemies of england and all that, but i'd say they're pretty up for it as a race.

Re Americans are not our enemny - well true the american people ain't. Sure literacy and world knowledge is pretty low in the UK but it's far far worse in the US, so I might say many people dislike the american ignorance.

Re blocking US bases, well it ain't boredom I can tell you. And UK Bases get blocked too. As a patriotic englishman nothing pisses me more than seeing the US spy networks located on our soil helping your big business screw the world, 'cos it ain't all used for fighting the terrorist octopus.

Try eating some of mum's humble pie, you could do with it mate, then try seeing the world from a view other than from the lawn of the whitehouse. That so many people turned out to UN-welcome bush when he came to london last year should tell you a few home truths.



blighty

Response to Martin

27.03.2004 16:51

Hi Martin, glad to hear your enjoying yourself over here. According to you I am one of many “Small minded bored idiot who have nothing better to do”. Im sorry I don’t quite get this? People who are thinking about how such things as American spy bases on other countries soil affect the whole world are small minded now? Thinking of local and global impact while being small minded? Not sure I get that. Bored is something I certainly am not. Too busy having too much fun. Idiot? Don’t think Ive ever met anyone who accuses me of that these days and I think some people Ive met on protests have been quite intelligent on the whole. Also some of the protesters were Uni students, some of which want to go into Law or Medicine. I REALLY hope they are not idiots. Nothing better to do have we? A common misconception amongst people who are against us and our protests. Many of us have work and Uni to go to. Some have families. What you don’t seem to understand it that we think such actions are important enough to make time out of our everyday lives. This is not an uncommon thing. A crude example would be an ordinary male and female couple they may lead full lives, living, working and playing. Then they have a child. They see the child as something they must take care of and spend time on. They make the time do what they feel they need to do and look after the child. So really if people see something as important, they can make time to do it. I do not consider you my enemy. Nor do I want to be under your “blanket of security”, I doesn’t seem all that secure. You call the European Nations weak. I call yours both weak and scared. You have the most technologically equipped army in the world. Your army is powerful. It is your society that is scared. Why else do you have so many gun in your homes, guns which hurt more innocent people than they protect? Why else you have to protect your children from the sweets they collect on Halloween? Why else do you need to attack barely defended countries without waiting for any evidence of any threat of WMD’s? Why else do you give away your hard earned liberties under the name of Patriotism and Homeland security? You have been lied to and scared by your Government and your Media. We are the ones who try to make our voices heard. We are the ones who face police arrest and brutality (At least two counts at block the base). The ones who have been on your base have risked being shot by your military on what should be English Land. We are peaceful and we are determined. We do not need to fight, we use our intelligence to try and further our aims. We haven’t lost our British tenacity. That is why we do this.

Peace and Love. –especially to those who joined us on the day, and those who wished they could, I hope you make it to the next one.

Joe C

Joe C
mail e-mail: japoteg@yahoo.co.uk

Response to Joe C.

03.04.2004 16:58

We Americans have been called a lot of things, but cowards! Come on! Hqave you ever lived amongst us Joe? If you have you would know that we are not cowards. Yes, we are allowed to have firearms in our homes. Only because our constitution allows us to bare arms. It is our right. I think you have been watching to much prime time. We are not killing each other with guns over here. Actually the statistics are low per capita. We are not going to be dictated to by our government as you Brits were when your government fooled you all into giving up your firearms. But I guess that doesn't mean a thing to you. It sounds like you and your coharts do not have the guts to deal with such things with your hiding behind your calls for peace. The human race has been fighting and killing one another forever and all the protesting that you folks do is just blowing smoke and nothing else. I was in England from the 70's to the early 90's and with all your protestings, has anything changed? No, you still have us "SPYING" Americans on you soil doing what we do. Joe! I'll bet you were bullied a lot when you were in school. Never mind, I realize that you dislike the strong. Have a nice life. Oh! by the way. I'm one of those repressive police officers that you so much dislike. Peace!

Martin

Reply to Martiny

26.04.2004 14:13

Martin what planet are you one?
Oh yeah the one amerikkka owns (you think)
Yes cowards, by definition, the mighty
us military machine just bombs, missiles,
helicopter attacks and kills innocents from
range with seemingly impunity. You must be
very proud.
When it come to being in the streets
(of iraq) you aren't so brave now are you.
You don't have a clue, go home and take
your crap with you.

Z
mail e-mail: tlmort@btinternet.com

to martin Martin

29.07.2005 18:45

hi there.

i think police men and women are just nice people who are doing a good job

my friend paul on the other hand thinks your all a bunch of mind controlled egotistical neandathol cunts.

which is it?

www.refuse-idcards.co.uk

david