Lakenheath Alliance for Peace photo
from Lakenheath Alliance for Peace
Early in the morning of April 7, peace protestors in England used heavy-duty locks to attach themselves to a large multi-coloured peace symbol, a car and each other, completely blocking the main gates of RAF Lakenheath for six hours. A second gate into RAF Lakenheath was also shut down by peace campaigners for four hours.
Fourteen people were arrested.
This nonviolent direct action followed a week-long International Peace Camp at the base that ended April 6. The airbase is owned by the Royal Air Force (RAF) but used exclusively by the U.S. Air Force and is sending fighter jets to the war in Iran. RAF bases Lakenheath and nearby Mildenhall have also supported Israel’s genocide in Gaza and nuclear bombs returned to Lakenheath last summer.
One of the lock-on protesters, Rajan Naidu from Birmingham said: “Through being on British sovereign territory this base is used by the U.S. to pursue an illegal war of aggression, raining death and misery on the people of Iran. The base is also being used to aid and abet Israeli war crimes and genocide against the Palestinian people. Britain, by allowing these crimes against humanity, is complicit in them, and therefore culpable for them”.
Marie Walsh, a retired teacher from Didcot said: “We are here to interrupt business as usual, and to say in the name of humanity ‘STOP’”.
Lakenheath Alliance for Peace photo
from ITV News Anglia
Police arrest 13 protestors during a six-hour blockade outside RAF Lakenheath
Police have arrested 13 people at an American air base after peace protestors blocked gates for six hours in a protest against the Iran war.
The Lakenheath Alliance for Peace said protestors used heavy duty locks to attach themselves to a car and each other to block the main gates to RAF Lakenheath from 6am on Tuesday.
In a statement, they said other activists also locked themselves to a large multi-coloured peace symbol.
A second gate was also blocked for four hours from 6am until it was re-opened at 10am.
Suffolk Police confirmed the 13 people arrested were taken to investigation centres in Bury St Edmunds and Martlesham for questioning.
The group said the blockade followed “a week-long International Peace Camp at the base that ended” on Monday.
In a statement, it said fighter and bomber planes from RAF Lakenheath have been deployed in Iran, describing the war as an “illegal war”.
The protestors said: “We are here to interrupt business as usual, and to say in the name of humanity ‘STOP'”.
In a statement, Suffolk Police said: “On Tuesday 7 April in Lakenheath, police arrested 13 people who had resumed protests outside the RAF base.
“The 13 were taken to investigation centres in Bury St Edmunds and Martlesham for questioning.
“The arrests relate to locking on, conspiracy to cause a public nuisance, attempting to lock on or criminal damage.
“Officers arrived at the base soon after 6am following reports of protesters locking themselves to their own vehicles outside the main gate and gathering at two other entrances. One gate was cleared by around 10am this morning; the others by early afternoon.
“The activity caused disruption to motorists, with some road closures implemented during the protest as officers assisted with traffic management.
“Officers will remain on site until further notice.”
Lesley Grahame, who was supporting the protestors on Tuesday, said: “Nobody in the UK wants to be at war.
“Can you imagine if they put the resources that went into here into doing the things that would cause peace.”
On Sunday 5 April, police arrested seven people, five men and two women, in Lakenheath on suspicion of supporting the banned group Palestine Action.
They have all since been released on bail.