This morning, September 21, the U.N.-designated World Day of Peace, five members of the grassroots human rights coalition, Upstate (NY) Drone Action [upstatedroneaction.org], were arrested as they held aloft three large banners together spanning the Hancock’s main entrance and exit driveways.
Hancock is on East Molloy Road in the town of DeWitt just north of Syracuse, NY. It hosts the 174th Attack Wing of the New York Air National Guard, home of the “hunter/killer” [the Pentagon’s phrase] MQ9 Reaper drone.
Reapers are unmanned robotic assassins flying missions 24/7 over Afghanistan and other Islamic nations.
One of those arrested noted, “The Reaper not only kills and maims humans, it destroys homes, and displaces and terrorizes whole communities. U.S. taxpayers pay for such terrorism which perpetuates violence and generates enormous ill will against the United States.”
Today’s event at Hancock’s main gate is only one incident there in Upstate Drone Action’s persistent nonviolent campaign to expose the Hancock war crime. Since 2010 there have been over 165 anti-war-crime arrests at the base, resulting in extreme bails, maximum fines, incarcerations, and Orders of Protection…as well as some acquittals.
Those arrested: Bonny Mahoney, Ed Kinane & Julienne Oldfield of Syracuse and Dan Burgevin and James Ricks of Ithaca. All were detained but released by Onondaga County Sheriffs around noon with appearance tickets charging them with trespass and disorderly conduct. Their court date is 6 p.m., October 14, in the DeWitt (NY) Town Court.###
[drone hancock sept 21, 2015 press release]
Note: the following is our statement which James Ricks read aloud to military personnel behind the main gate.
It was composed last night by James, Ellen Grady & Ed Kinane:
DRONES KILL CHILDREN — DRONES FLY, CHILDREN DIE
The United Nations General Assembly has declared today, September 21, 2015, an International World Day of Peace. As we stand here at the main gate of Hancock Air Base, its “hunter/killer” MQ9 Reaper drone arrogantly patrols Afghan skies 24/7 — killing innocent children there and likely elsewhere.
We U.S. citizens and taxpayers look on with horror at the millions of refugees fleeing airborne terror and are shamed by our unconsented complicity. Too many drone victims are precious and beloved children. We bring their images and their silenced voices to Hancock today.
As members of the Upstate Drone Action Coalition, we come to this War Base – home of the Reaper and the 174th Attack Wing of the NY National Guard – seeking to prevent the murder of these innocents, both on this day and for all days.
We are here to uphold law, both domestic and international.
We are here to bring the images of their victims both to the Hancock chain of command and to the U.S. public.
Specifically, we are here to say NO to the maiming, murder and terrorizing of children.
Since 2010 this grassroots Coalition has sought to expose state-sponsored drone war crime. The crime is multi-layered. It includes extrajudicial execution/assassination, contempt for due process, the undermining of international law and national sovereignty, the murder of the undeniably innocent –- both within and beyond any recognized zone of war.
Unjustified on any level, save “might makes right,” such terrorism prepares fertile ground for perpetual conflict. This criminality benefits few besides war-profiteering corporations.
To the extent that WE, THE PEOPLE ignore our laws and our Constitution — allowing our government to kill whoever it wants, wherever it wants, however it wants — we make the world less safe for children here and everywhere. We demand that the Hancock chain of command and the United States to STOP THE KILLING!