Publish to Newswire
Add an EventFrom the Open-Publishing Calendar
From the Open-Publishing Newswire
Indybay Feature
Vandenberg Actions Press Release
For Immediate Release
Please distribute:
For Immediate Release:
RE: May 19th – May 24th Protest Actions at Vandenberg Air Force Base
Contact:
Pablo Paster (805)-545-8385
Resource center for Nonviolence (831)-423-1626
Peter Lumsdaine (Organizer) (805)-688-7610
Purpose:
This weekend’s actions at Vandenberg Air Force Base serve the purpose of raising awareness of, and voicing objection to counterinsurgency spy satellites. These sensitive spy satellites are launched into orbit at Vandenberg’s southern facility and are used around the world to aid the exploitation of native people by multinational corporations. The US military exists today as an enforcement arm of the Neo-liberal Globalization efforts of corporations rather than for defense of the people’s interests.
Activists present also object to the National Missile Defense (NMD) system. The NMD is a scam by the Military-Industrial Complex to take money from taxpayers. The system is unfeasible, it breaks at least two treaties (ABM, START II) and will give rise to a new arms race.
We would also like to draw attention to the connection between the actions against the IMF, World Bank, NAFTA, FTAA, etc. and this weekend’s actions at Vandenberg. As previously stated the US Military serves as an enforcement arm to the corporate interests. When citizens of a third world nation rise up in objection to being exploited and having their land exploited, the US military and US-funded military groups are sent in to silence them. Vandenberg’s spy satellite technology enables these military groups to locate and destroy the opposition.
Currently:
Yesterday, several hundred people attended a legal rally at Vandenberg’s front gate. There were speakers and musicians as helicopters attempted to drown out our sound system. Approximately 15 unidentified persons, using media passes attended the event. These people would not answer questions regarding who they worked for and it was confirmed by the Public Relations Official that they were indeed filming for Vandenberg. The rally was followed by civil disobedience at the front gate. After a tense standoff with riot police (with the threat of dogs, water cannons and OC spray) 24 individuals were arrested for federal trespassing after crossing the line. In an apparent suspension of first amendment rights, the remaining crowd was ordered to disperse immediately. This was enforced by black-baret wearing troops with attack dogs.
The second part of this weekend’s actions is a backcountry security-zone occupation in which affinity groups trek into various parts of the base and make their presence known. This is currently going on and will continue through the 24th. Early this morning, four persons were arrested on county property (a public park at Surf Beach) and charged with trespassing on Vandenberg property. We have just received a telephone call from an additional group of 6 that has been arrested on Vandenberg property. The ten prisoners will be transported to Los Angeles where they will be arraigned at the Federal Courthouse (225 East Temple) at 2pm tomorrow. The Arrest total as of 6pm is 38.
Effect:
The Air Force Base security personnel have been working exhausting twelve-hour shifts and the Base is on “Def. Con. Bravo.” The military is using helicopters, guided by infrared and spotlights, and vehicles on the ground in their search.
Please feel free to contact any of the above mentioned contacts for additional information. Also, please see today’s article by Che Tabisola in the Santa Barbara News Press (Newspress.com).
Sincerely,
Pablo Paster
For Immediate Release:
RE: May 19th – May 24th Protest Actions at Vandenberg Air Force Base
Contact:
Pablo Paster (805)-545-8385
Resource center for Nonviolence (831)-423-1626
Peter Lumsdaine (Organizer) (805)-688-7610
Purpose:
This weekend’s actions at Vandenberg Air Force Base serve the purpose of raising awareness of, and voicing objection to counterinsurgency spy satellites. These sensitive spy satellites are launched into orbit at Vandenberg’s southern facility and are used around the world to aid the exploitation of native people by multinational corporations. The US military exists today as an enforcement arm of the Neo-liberal Globalization efforts of corporations rather than for defense of the people’s interests.
Activists present also object to the National Missile Defense (NMD) system. The NMD is a scam by the Military-Industrial Complex to take money from taxpayers. The system is unfeasible, it breaks at least two treaties (ABM, START II) and will give rise to a new arms race.
We would also like to draw attention to the connection between the actions against the IMF, World Bank, NAFTA, FTAA, etc. and this weekend’s actions at Vandenberg. As previously stated the US Military serves as an enforcement arm to the corporate interests. When citizens of a third world nation rise up in objection to being exploited and having their land exploited, the US military and US-funded military groups are sent in to silence them. Vandenberg’s spy satellite technology enables these military groups to locate and destroy the opposition.
Currently:
Yesterday, several hundred people attended a legal rally at Vandenberg’s front gate. There were speakers and musicians as helicopters attempted to drown out our sound system. Approximately 15 unidentified persons, using media passes attended the event. These people would not answer questions regarding who they worked for and it was confirmed by the Public Relations Official that they were indeed filming for Vandenberg. The rally was followed by civil disobedience at the front gate. After a tense standoff with riot police (with the threat of dogs, water cannons and OC spray) 24 individuals were arrested for federal trespassing after crossing the line. In an apparent suspension of first amendment rights, the remaining crowd was ordered to disperse immediately. This was enforced by black-baret wearing troops with attack dogs.
The second part of this weekend’s actions is a backcountry security-zone occupation in which affinity groups trek into various parts of the base and make their presence known. This is currently going on and will continue through the 24th. Early this morning, four persons were arrested on county property (a public park at Surf Beach) and charged with trespassing on Vandenberg property. We have just received a telephone call from an additional group of 6 that has been arrested on Vandenberg property. The ten prisoners will be transported to Los Angeles where they will be arraigned at the Federal Courthouse (225 East Temple) at 2pm tomorrow. The Arrest total as of 6pm is 38.
Effect:
The Air Force Base security personnel have been working exhausting twelve-hour shifts and the Base is on “Def. Con. Bravo.” The military is using helicopters, guided by infrared and spotlights, and vehicles on the ground in their search.
Please feel free to contact any of the above mentioned contacts for additional information. Also, please see today’s article by Che Tabisola in the Santa Barbara News Press (Newspress.com).
Sincerely,
Pablo Paster
We are 100% volunteer and depend on your participation to sustain our efforts!
Donate
$210.00 donated
in the past month
Get Involved
If you'd like to help with maintaining or developing the website, contact us.
Publish
Publish your stories and upcoming events on Indybay.
Topics
More
Search Indybay's Archives
Advanced Search
►
▼
IMC Network
NEWS RELEASE
For Immediate Release
Contact: Scott Galindez (213) 389 2991 Liz Wyrsch
(323) 267 8789 or Marc Page (702) 646 4814
VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE BEGINS PERSECUTION
OF PEACE ACTIVISTS
WHO: 32 peace activists arrested May 19th & 20th 2001
WHAT: Arraignment of alleged trespassers arrested for peaceful protests
and prayers to stop Star Wars
WHERE: Vandenberg Air Force Base (VAFB), Kern County Jail, Los Angeles &
Santa Barbara Federal Courts
WHEN: May 19th to June 18th 2001
WHY: Hundreds of people have come to protest @ VAFB,
and dozens have begun to take direct action to stop
the U.S. from exploiting outer space for the sake of
the U.S. economy. VAFB is the world's "largest U.S.
Space Command facility" (according to the Vandenberg
Action Coalition). The Base is of prime importance in
allowing the U.S. and her corporations to maintain
global dominance. 22 activists crossed the line @ VAFB
on May 19th and some have been sentenced to three
years of probation and fines. Others in that group are
planning instead go to trial facing the charge of
trespass. Meanwhile, TEN OTHERS WERE ARRESTED FOR
BACK-COUNTRY ACTIONS ON MAY 20th AND CHARGED WITH
CONSPIRACY.
Two of these ten Vandenberg alleged conspiring
trespassers are still in jail, refusing to accept
the privilege of bond release. One--Jeff Dietrich
of the Los Angeles Catholic Worker (LACW)--entered
three "guilty" pleas on two counts of trespass and
one count of conspiracy to trespass when arraigned
on June 11th. He will have served two and a half months
in jail by the time he receives his sentence on August 6th.
The other, Brian Buckley of the LACW, entered a plea
of "not guilty" on the same day. His trial is set for
July 31st 2001. On June 18th, the other four members
of the LACW affinity group plead "not guilty". Also on
June 18th, four men in a separate affinity group were
arraigned on the same three charges, and all plead
"not guilty". All who entered the "not guilty" pleas
have a trial date of July 31st. Some of these
co-defendants are not planning to go to trial.
"Vandenberg is hitting us with as much as they can--two of these
charges carry a maximum sentence of a year each. That's a ridiculous
consequence for simply peacefully praying while the Base itself is guilty
of seriously disturbing the peace and faces no penalty. I guess the U.S.
must realize that Vandenberg is a major global threat, so they take our
prayers seriously." says Marc Page of Nevada Desert Experience. Page is one
of the back-country co-defendants as part of the LACW affinity group.
Nevada Desert Experience was an endorser of the actions on May 19th & 20th.
Liz Wyrsch (a member of the LACW community and part of the LACW affinity
group arrested on May 20th) points out that everyone in the U.S. bears some
responsibility for the system of domination that the U.S. practices through
Star Wars, the counterinsurgency satellites and the nuclear threat at
Vandenberg and elsewhere. Raytheon, Boeing, Lockheed-Martin and TRW create
the technology used by the military to terrorize others, and sincere
faith-based activists contend that ordinary people in the U.S. benefit from
unfair economic advantages due to U.S. domination over the rest of the
planet. They
say the mere complicity with the economic system in North America carries
some measure of culpability. "We are all responsible. I wanted to be there
on the land, to take that step forward, in a prayerful spirit of peace--a
step out of the communal guilt of the militarization of space. "
Twenty-three people who were arrested for an action @
VAFB in October were ordered to come to their
arraignment on June 27th. This was an unexpected twist in
the criminal justice system, as they had to wait seven
months before receiving notice of an impending
arraignment.
Peace activists point out the urgency of continuing
the resistance to VAFB despite the hard-nosed approach
taken by the U.S. Attorney. Regarding space-based
weaponry, Karl Grossman (professor of Journalism @
SUNY) says, "...there is only a narrow window to stop
these schemes from going forward and preventing what
inevitably would follow: an international arms race
and ultimately war in space."
NEWS RELEASE
For Immediate Release
Contact: Scott Galindez (213) 389 2991 Liz Wyrsch
(323) 267 8789 or Marc Page (702) 646 4814
VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE BEGINS PERSECUTION
OF PEACE ACTIVISTS
WHO: 32 peace activists arrested May 19th & 20th 2001
WHAT: Arraignment of alleged trespassers arrested for peaceful protests
and prayers to stop Star Wars
WHERE: Vandenberg Air Force Base (VAFB), Kern County Jail, Los Angeles &
Santa Barbara Federal Courts
WHEN: May 19th to June 18th 2001
WHY: Hundreds of people have come to protest @ VAFB,
and dozens have begun to take direct action to stop
the U.S. from exploiting outer space for the sake of
the U.S. economy. VAFB is the world's "largest U.S.
Space Command facility" (according to the Vandenberg
Action Coalition). The Base is of prime importance in
allowing the U.S. and her corporations to maintain
global dominance. 22 activists crossed the line @ VAFB
on May 19th and some have been sentenced to three
years of probation and fines. Others in that group are
planning instead go to trial facing the charge of
trespass. Meanwhile, TEN OTHERS WERE ARRESTED FOR
BACK-COUNTRY ACTIONS ON MAY 20th AND CHARGED WITH
CONSPIRACY.
Two of these ten Vandenberg alleged conspiring
trespassers are still in jail, refusing to accept
the privilege of bond release. One--Jeff Dietrich
of the Los Angeles Catholic Worker (LACW)--entered
three "guilty" pleas on two counts of trespass and
one count of conspiracy to trespass when arraigned
on June 11th. He will have served two and a half months
in jail by the time he receives his sentence on August 6th.
The other, Brian Buckley of the LACW, entered a plea
of "not guilty" on the same day. His trial is set for
July 31st 2001. On June 18th, the other four members
of the LACW affinity group plead "not guilty". Also on
June 18th, four men in a separate affinity group were
arraigned on the same three charges, and all plead
"not guilty". All who entered the "not guilty" pleas
have a trial date of July 31st. Some of these
co-defendants are not planning to go to trial.
"Vandenberg is hitting us with as much as they can--two of these
charges carry a maximum sentence of a year each. That's a ridiculous
consequence for simply peacefully praying while the Base itself is guilty
of seriously disturbing the peace and faces no penalty. I guess the U.S.
must realize that Vandenberg is a major global threat, so they take our
prayers seriously." says Marc Page of Nevada Desert Experience. Page is one
of the back-country co-defendants as part of the LACW affinity group.
Nevada Desert Experience was an endorser of the actions on May 19th & 20th.
Liz Wyrsch (a member of the LACW community and part of the LACW affinity
group arrested on May 20th) points out that everyone in the U.S. bears some
responsibility for the system of domination that the U.S. practices through
Star Wars, the counterinsurgency satellites and the nuclear threat at
Vandenberg and elsewhere. Raytheon, Boeing, Lockheed-Martin and TRW create
the technology used by the military to terrorize others, and sincere
faith-based activists contend that ordinary people in the U.S. benefit from
unfair economic advantages due to U.S. domination over the rest of the
planet. They
say the mere complicity with the economic system in North America carries
some measure of culpability. "We are all responsible. I wanted to be there
on the land, to take that step forward, in a prayerful spirit of peace--a
step out of the communal guilt of the militarization of space. "
Twenty-three people who were arrested for an action @
VAFB in October were ordered to come to their
arraignment on June 27th. This was an unexpected twist in
the criminal justice system, as they had to wait seven
months before receiving notice of an impending
arraignment.
Peace activists point out the urgency of continuing
the resistance to VAFB despite the hard-nosed approach
taken by the U.S. Attorney. Regarding space-based
weaponry, Karl Grossman (professor of Journalism @
SUNY) says, "...there is only a narrow window to stop
these schemes from going forward and preventing what
inevitably would follow: an international arms race
and ultimately war in space."