Global Day of Action Against Drone Warfare
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On Sunday October 5 2014 about 100 anti-war protesters gathered at the entrance to the Hancock Air National Guard base in Syracuse NY. Unlike previous events which led to arrests this one had a permit to use a small area in full view of the base entrance. The response by base guards and local police seemed quite excessive as there seemed to be more cops and soldiers than there were protesters. A pro-war group of about 10 people was also permitted to demonstrate in the same area but there were no incidents.
The event was part of a larger event beginning October 4 in Germany and the UK, and in other US cities. The delegation in Syracuse included groups from Buffalo, Rochester, Ithaca, Utica, Albany and Binghamton. Among the New York groups represented were:
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Bicyclists Against Killer Drones
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Medical Workers Against Killer Drones
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Town of Dewitt Residents Against Killer Drones
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Honey Bees Against Killer Drones
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Gardeners Against Killer Drones
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Veterans Against Killer Drones
Video of event (approx 30 miniutes) with simulated drone attack (you can't see them when they attack!)
One point that was made was the improper use of Orders of Protection. After a protest last year, a judge granted an order of protection to the base commander. Orders of Protection were intended to protect victims of violent crime, not heavily armed officers from people who object to their actions. In response, a “People's Order of Protection” was issued to protect innocent civilians from drone warfare internationally.
Killer drones have been used continuously in Afghanistan, resulting in numerous civilian casualties, largely unreported, as the ongoing war in Afghanistan has been virtually invisible for the last 8-10 years. To this day, 40 children are killed every week in the ongoing violence in Afghanistan. Drones are used to bomb countries we are not at war with, Pakistan, Yemen, Somalia, and now Iraq and Syria. Well, it's stretching a point to say we aren't at war with Syria. The drones are used in many parts of the Middle East, SW Asia, and Africa to terrorize indigenous populations into accepting western agendas. Israel uses drones over Gaza and drones were a key weapon in the bombardment of Gaza last month that took the lives of more than 2000 people. The US has agreed to sell drones to 68 foreign countries, and Israel is less discriminate in their proliferation.
Of course there was music!
