Skip Navigation | Sheffield IMC | UK IMC | Editorial Guidelines | Mission Statement | About Us | Contact | Help | Support Us

UK Indymedia UK Indymedia Sheffield Indymedia Sheffield Indymedia

Menwith Hill - CAAB report

CAAB | 07.07.2003 01:12 | Anti-militarism | Sheffield

CAAB report of Independence from America day at Menwith Hill

The Gatecrasher's Ball at Menwith Hill
Friday 4 July 2003
INDEPENDENCE FROM AMERICA

About 400 people came from all over the country - north, south, east and west to the Gatecrasher's Ball at the American base at Menwith Hill calling for Independence FROM America. It was a very good day. The weather was kind - blue skies and sunshine. People rose to the occasion and came dressed in wonderful costumes including beautiful, imaginative ball gowns and masks (some men included!) and top hats and tails.

After an initial hold up because of problems with the generator for the sound system not working, Chris Dean on behalf of the Campaign for the Accountability of American Bases and friends welcomed everyone and then invited people to join in a public reading of the Declaration of Independence FROM America (adapted by CAAB from the orginal).

Mark Thomas introduced the excellent speakers - Mark Hill (Green Party) Catriona Grant (Scottish Socialist Party) Rebecca Johnson (Greenham Comman and Vice Chair Board of Atomic Scientists) - unfortunatly Steve Kemp (NUM) was unable to come - Danbert (Chumbawumba) spoke later.

The planned walk round the base had to be cut short because of time factors but primilarly because of the chaotic policing. We were not allowed to start the walk for, what seemed like a quite unnecessary length of time.

Two police horses were put at the front of the walk. They seemed inexperienced horses and their riders were clearly not in control of them as they reared up, backed into protestors and were generally not fit to be at any demonstration until adequately trained. It became potentially extremely dangerous. This was the first time police horses have ever come for a demonstration at Menwith Hill)

Despite the organisers trying to continually reason with Inspector Shelton (North Yorkshire police) that we should start the walk and that the police horses should be withdrawn, this was refused. Later the two horses were replaced by four horses who were marginally better trained. The police horse unit came had come all the way from Sheffield.

The purpose of the walk was for a guided tour round the base with stops at various places where Lindis Percy ((CAAB) would give some information about Menwith Hill. This was not fully achieved and a difficult decision had to be made as to whether we continued going round.

The atmosphere was becoming somewhat tense because of the chaotic policing. Because we were running short of time a difficult decision was made to go back to the Main entrance and start the programme of music etc. Many apologies to those who wanted to continue.

Several people walked a short distance on the base until stopped by Ministry of Defence Police Agency officers on base. The policing was generally heavy and unreasonable.

The public footpath was closed by a row of NY police who refused to say under what Act they were doing this.

There was a wonderful line up of artists - musicians and poets which was hosted by Mark Thomas who also spoke in his unique way - a combination of humour and political satire.

There was dancing in the road and later a drumming work shop facilitated by Steve Hill from Leeds. We reluctantly brought the demonstration to a close at about 7.30 pm.

There were three arrests. Three people were charged with a variety of alleged offences.

COMMENT FROM CAAB

We were extrememly disappointed and somewhat angry that North Yorkshire police had let us down so badly. We had met and carefully liaised with North Yorkshire police and had come to an agreement as to how the demonstration should be policed. On the day the police unilaterally changed all the carefully negotiated agreements.

The police were reasponsible for any conflict that happened and it was quite unnecessary that so many police and police horses were drafted in. There could have been serious injuries because of the incompetent policing.

We have had good relations with NYP over many years. We discussed this with the Assistant Police Constable of North Yorkshire who was there on Friday. He will be investigating the policing on the day. CAAB will then be meeting with NYP at some stage to express our concerns and disapointments as to what happened on the day.

As far as the policing was concerned it was frankly a disgrace and not what we have been used to over the years. We have worked to ensure that any demonstration involving CAAB was safe for all concerned. However the main issue is that the police help us to exercise our human right to peacefully demonstrate (despite the US authorities).

Despite all this thank you so much to everyone who worked to hard and helped in the organisation of the Gatecrasher's Ball and to all those who contributed to making it such a good day.

Saturday 5 July 2003 at NSA Menwith Hill

Lindis Percy (Joint Co-ordinator CAAB) was the lone demonstrator the next day when the Americans at Menwith Hill 'celebrated' their Independence Day.

There were a lot of police once again and 10 NY police officers were present while Lindis held the US flat (upside down) with the words INDEPENCE FROM AMERICA written on it towards visitors to the base.

She was videoed all the time by NY police while she was at the base. Because she has bail conditions at Menwith Hill (also at 9 other US bases and Fylingdales) the police measured the imposed distance of 5 meters with a tape measure and drew a yellow line at intervals across the road! If only energy was put into addressing the serious issues of what the US government are doing round the world generally and specifically at Menwith Hill!

It seemed that very few people came to this event on the base. There were many more on the outside calling for INDPENDENCE FROM AMERICA the day before!

NEXT DEMONSTRATION organised by CAAB inconjuction with Yorkshire CND

Saturday 11 October 2003 at Menwith Hill
Details later on CAAB and YCND websites

International week of protest called for by the Global Network against Nuclear Power and Weapons in Space (held for the past three years at Menwith Hill and other US bases)

REMINDER

There has been a weekly witness and protest outside the Main entrance to Menwith Hill for over three years - organised by CAAB every Tuesday evening (7-9 pm).

It's even more important than ever to let the US authorities and their employees know that we totally oppose what they are doing at Menwith Hill - please come.......

Anni Rainbow and Lindis Percy
Joint Co-ordinators
CAMPAIGN FOR THE ACCOUNTABILITY OF AMERICAN BASES (CAAB)
8 Park Row, Otley, West Yorkshire, LS21 1HQ, England, U.K.
Tel/fax no: +44 (0)1943 466405 0R +44 (0)1482 702033
email:  anniandlindis@caab.org.uk or  caab@btclick.com
Website:  http://www.caab.org.uk

CAAB
- e-mail: anniandlindis@caab.org.uk
- Homepage: http://www.caab.org.uk

Comments

Hide the following 6 comments

Lindis Percy at Menwith Hill on July 4th

07.07.2003 01:19

Independence from America day
Independence from America day

Lindis Percy at Menwith Hill on July 4th

steve


well done

07.07.2003 09:55

Well done to lindis percy for observing the hypocritical americans at menwith on the 5th.
i do find it ironic that the USA the bastion of freedom gained independence only to oppress others. The last country to get rid of slavery and the slave trade, the war on the natives, mexico and the american led division of S america for their own ends.

Ernest


Lindis Percy at Menwith Hill

09.07.2003 00:00

Dear friends

The lovely photograph that you have put on your website is not actually me but Christine Dean (long time protestor at Menwith Hill (since the early 80s)and Treasurer of CAAB - Chris welcomed everyone on 4 July and led the reading of the Declaration of Independence FROM America. So please would you change the name....thank you the supportive words...it was a very good day - we are now planning the next one with Yorkshire CND - 11 October at Menwith Hill - details on CAAB website as and when...

In peace and love

Lindis (Percy)
Joint Co-ordinator
CAMPAIGN FOR THE ACCOUNTABILITY OF AMERICAN BASES (CAAB)
www.caab.org.uk

Lindis Percy
mail e-mail: caab@btclick. com
- Homepage: http://www.caab.org.uk


Lindis Percy at Menwith Hill

09.07.2003 00:11

Dear friends

The lovely photo that you say is me is actually a photo of Christine Dean - she welcomed everyone at the beginning of the demo and led the public reading of the Declaration of Independence FROM America at Menwith Hill - she has been a tireless campaigner for accountability at Menwith Hill since the early 80s. She is also Treasurer of CAAB.

Please would you change the name on the photo. Thank you for your supportive words too. We are starting to work with Yorkshire CND on the next CAAB demo - Saturday 11 October - details on CAAB website as and when...

In peace

Lindis Percy
Joint Co-ordinator
CAMPAIGN FOR THE ACCOUNTABILITY OF AMERICAN BASES (CAAB)
www.caab.org.uk

Lindis Percy
mail e-mail: caab@btclick.com
- Homepage: http://www.caab.org.uk


more chris dean

09.07.2003 22:22

inspiring women

vicmunki& t.s.o 4 trollyd


Menwith Hill article

18.11.2003 08:48

Dear Friends: Thanks for your excellent article about the Menwith Protest on 4 July. Sorry to be pedantic, but the photograph you have on the article is actually one of the lovely and marvellous Christine Dean, not the lovely and marvellous Lindis Percy, as the caption reads....
Keep up the good work,

Yours in peace,
Melanie Ndzinga

Melanie Ndzinga
mail e-mail: mndzinga@yahoo.co.uk


Kollektives

Birmingham
Cambridge
Liverpool
London
Oxford
Sheffield
South Coast
Wales
World

Other UK IMCs
Bristol/South West
London
Northern Indymedia
Scotland

Sheffield Topics

Afghanistan
Analysis
Animal Liberation
Anti-Nuclear
Anti-militarism
Anti-racism
Bio-technology
Climate Chaos
Culture
Ecology
Education
Energy Crisis
Fracking
Free Spaces
Gender
Globalisation
Health
History
Indymedia
Iraq
Migration
Ocean Defence
Other Press
Palestine
Policing
Public sector cuts
Repression
Social Struggles
Technology
Terror War
Workers' Movements
Zapatista

Sheffield [navigation.actions2016]

Sheffield [navigation.actions2015]

Sheffield [navigation.actions2014]

NATO 2014

Sheffield Actions 2013

G8 2013

Sheffield Actions 2012

Workfare

Sheffield Actions 2011

2011 Census Resistance
August Riots
Dale Farm
J30 Strike
Occupy Everywhere

Sheffield Actions 2010

Flotilla to Gaza
Mayday 2010
Tar Sands

Sheffield Actions 2009

COP15 Climate Summit 2009
G20 London Summit
Guantánamo
Indymedia Server Seizure
University Occupations for Gaza

Sheffield Actions 2008

2008 Days Of Action For Autonomous Spaces
Campaign against Carmel-Agrexco
Climate Camp 2008
G8 Japan 2008
SHAC
Smash EDO
Stop Sequani Animal Testing
Stop the BNP's Red White and Blue festival

Sheffield Actions 2007

Climate Camp 2007
DSEi 2007
G8 Germany 2007
Mayday 2007
No Border Camp 2007

Sheffield Actions 2006

April 2006 No Borders Days of Action
Art and Activism Caravan 2006
Climate Camp 2006
Faslane
French CPE uprising 2006
G8 Russia 2006
Lebanon War 2006
March 18 Anti War Protest
Mayday 2006
Oaxaca Uprising
Refugee Week 2006
Rossport Solidarity
SOCPA
Transnational Day of Action Against Migration Controls
WSF 2006

Sheffield Actions 2005

DSEi 2005
G8 2005
WTO Hong Kong 2005

Sheffield Actions 2004

European Social Forum
FBI Server Seizure
May Day 2004
Venezuela

Sheffield Actions 2003

Bush 2003
DSEi 2003
Evian G8
May Day 2003
No War F15
Saloniki Prisoner Support
Thessaloniki EU
WSIS 2003

Server Appeal Radio Page Video Page Indymedia Cinema Offline Newsheet

secure Encrypted Page

You are viewing this page using an encrypted connection. If you bookmark this page or send its address in an email you might want to use the un-encrypted address of this page.

If you recieved a warning about an untrusted root certificate please install the CAcert root certificate, for more information see the security page.

IMCs


www.indymedia.org

Projects
print
radio
satellite tv
video

Africa

Europe
antwerpen
armenia
athens
austria
barcelona
belarus
belgium
belgrade
brussels
bulgaria
calabria
croatia
cyprus
emilia-romagna
estrecho / madiaq
galiza
germany
grenoble
hungary
ireland
istanbul
italy
la plana
liege
liguria
lille
linksunten
lombardia
madrid
malta
marseille
nantes
napoli
netherlands
northern england
nottingham imc
paris/île-de-france
patras
piemonte
poland
portugal
roma
romania
russia
sardegna
scotland
sverige
switzerland
torun
toscana
ukraine
united kingdom
valencia

Latin America
argentina
bolivia
chiapas
chile
chile sur
cmi brasil
cmi sucre
colombia
ecuador
mexico
peru
puerto rico
qollasuyu
rosario
santiago
tijuana
uruguay
valparaiso
venezuela

Oceania
aotearoa
brisbane
burma
darwin
jakarta
manila
melbourne
perth
qc
sydney

South Asia
india


United States
arizona
arkansas
asheville
atlanta
Austin
binghamton
boston
buffalo
chicago
cleveland
colorado
columbus
dc
hawaii
houston
hudson mohawk
kansas city
la
madison
maine
miami
michigan
milwaukee
minneapolis/st. paul
new hampshire
new jersey
new mexico
new orleans
north carolina
north texas
nyc
oklahoma
philadelphia
pittsburgh
portland
richmond
rochester
rogue valley
saint louis
san diego
san francisco
san francisco bay area
santa barbara
santa cruz, ca
sarasota
seattle
tampa bay
united states
urbana-champaign
vermont
western mass
worcester

West Asia
Armenia
Beirut
Israel
Palestine

Topics
biotech

Process
fbi/legal updates
mailing lists
process & imc docs
tech