Syracuse (WSYR-TV) - 37 protesters were arrested at Syracuse's Hancock Air National Guard Base during a demonstration against the use of
Reaper Drones. As many as 250 people were involved in the protest at the peak.
Draped in white cloths sprinkled with red dye to simulate blood, some of the protesters laid in the street at the base's main entrance to simulate the "collateral damage" victims of drone bombings. The group says the use of drones in bombing operations in Iraq, Pakistan and Afghanistan have a high rate of "collateral damage." They call that result a violation of human rights.
The group, organized by the
Upstate Coalition to Ground the Drones and End the Wars, chose to protest outside Hancock Air Base because they say it has become an important player in the military's increasing use of the drones in warfare.
"I'm part of this because I believe that war is never a good idea, but I believe that making it seem easy and remote makes it all the more dangerous - not only to the people who we're dropping bombs on but also to the people who are choosing to drop the bombs," protester Shelly Lovelace said.
"This has started as soon as people became aware of drones being piloted out of Hancock, and it will continue," said protester Carol Eaum. "We will not relent. We started the day, we understood what was going on, and we have not relented and we will not stop."
Formerly a fighter jet base, pilots stationed there now fly Reaper Drones remotely over Afghanistan. The base is also used to train mechanics, pilots and sensor operators.
Protesters had been issued a lawful assembly permit by the Town of Dewitt which allowed protesters to assemble at the airbase from 3:00 to 4:00 p.m. Sheriff’s Deputies and Dewitt Police were on standby to monitor the protest and Military Police maintained a presence inside the airbase.
"What we do here is basically protecting their constitutional right, as well as what we're doing with the MQ-9 Reaper overseas is we're protecting Americans and allied forces on the ground. So, we take this responsibility very seriously," 174th Fighter Wing spokesperson Capt. Anthony Bucci said.
The 37 protesters that were arrested had laid down in the roadway in front of the base entrance. Deputies told them to move because they were obstructing the entrance to the military base, but after they repeatedly refused the protesters were arrested for Obstruction of Governmental Administration and Disorderly Conduct.
"They blocked the entrance to the military base, which you can't do. They were given numerous instructions to get up. They refused to. At this point the commanding officer made the decision to arrest them," said Onondaga County Sheriff's Department Spokesperson Deputy William Gabriel.
None of the protesters resisted arrest and were cooperative with deputies.
"It was very peaceful and it continues to be very peaceful, but once the permit ran out and once they started obstructing traffic then it was time for us to move in and make the arrests. But everybody is cooperating and we'll hopefully have them processed and out of the jail as quickly as possible," Onondaga County Sheriff Kevin Walsh said.
Despite the arrests, the protesters say they won't end their opposition to the use of military drones overseas.
"I don't think it is in the interest of anyone to invest in violence because violence just breeds a desire for revenge," Lovelace said.
"While I don't agree with what they're saying about the MQ-9, I certainly will defend their right to say it peacefully," said Capt. Bucci.
"Many of the folks we know from previous protests and we know their whole point for being out here is to get arrested to make their point," Sheriff Walsh said. "God bless that we live in a country where we're allowed to voice our opinions in this fashion."
In a statement, the
174th Fighter Wing's Public Affairs Officer Major Jeff Brown said: "We respect the right of all groups to peacefully assemble outside our base. That being said, we are proud of the role we play in protecting the lives of military men and women on the ground in harms way. We are able to provide such protection in large part due to the technology of remotely piloted aircraft. This state-of-the-art technology saves American lives on a daily basis."
A similar protest was also held last year.
The names of the arrested protesters are:
Grady Ellen 48, Ithaca, NY, Jerome Berrigan 91 Syracuse, NY, Marion Kyssack 68, Ithaca, NY, Julius Orkin 72, Bergenfield, NJ, Richard Saddler 46, Ithaca, NY, Elliot Adams 64, Sharon Springs, NY, Martha Hennessy 55, Perkinsville, VT, Ian Sloan 17, Spencer, NY, MW Wadsworth 32,Utica, NY 32, Bernard Survil 70, Bradford, PA, George Homanich 63, Binghamton, NY, Victoria Ross 56, Ithaca, NY, MA Grady-Flores 54, Ithaca, NY, Harry Murray 59, Rochester, NY, Joan Pleune 72, Brooklyn, NY, Craver Scibilia 58, Thursmanburg, NY, Paul Wittjung 67, Syracuse, NY, Edward Kinane 67, Syracuse, NY, Elliot Adams 64, Sharon Springs, NY, Ann Tiffany 75, Syracuse, NY, Mary Wright 64, Honolulu, HI, Judith Bello 60, Webster, NY, Patricia Powers 55, Utica, NY, Mary Synder 86, Johnson City, NY, Beverly Rice 73, New York, New York, Clare Grady 52, Ithaca, NY, Peter Bianco 32, New Hartford, NY, Brian Terrell 54, Maloy, Ia, Cynthia Banas 81, Vernon, NY, Rae Kramer 50, Syracuse, NY, Daniel Burns 50, Ithaca, NY, Juliene Oldfield 73, Syracuse, NY, Kathleen Rumpf 59, Syracuse, NY, Richard Vallejo 24, Liverpool, NY, Kathleen Kelly 58, Chicago, IL, Elizabeth Adams 65, Leverett, MA, James Clune 63, Binghamton, NY.
Several of the protesters were arraigned and held on bail at the Onondaga County Justice Center. The remaining protesters were released on appearance tickets.
