Peace and Justice Center of Nevada County
– Artist’s Website –
Anti-Drone Protesters Blocked Traffic In to the Drone Base near Marysville. Four activists were arrested protesting Beale AFB participation in the U.S. program to kill alleged enemies in other countries. Protesters also oppose proposals that would weaken the ban on weapons in space.
In the rainy, dark, early morning hours, local activists stood with large banners and blocked the main gate at Beale Air Force Base. Leaflets were handed to each driver, informing them about the horrible consequences of the drone program and the killing of 15 Afghan civilian men who were illegally killed last month while sleeping by drone missiles. This killing is under investigation by the United Nations. Critics of the U.S. drone killing program point out that such incidents are a major factor in the spread of radical extremism. Four drone whistle blowers have written a public letter to President Obama opposing this program.
Beale AFB controls the Global Hawk surveillance drone that provides surveillance, identification and tracking of potential targets. The 15 civilian men in eastern Afghanistan who were killed by drone missiles last month and 13 others who were injured were gathered to welcome a man who had just returned from his religious pilgrimage to Mecca. One source indicated that they were all supporters of the current government in Afghanistan. The protesters assert that these are serious crimes against humanity that we are committing and that this cruelty produces blowback from the poor and desperate Afghan people. Unfortunately, this subject is not mentioned in our political debates. These monthly drone protests at Beale AFB are our only voice. They have continued for 6 years. Now, the added threat of militarization of space seems to be growing once again.
