Protest Underway Now at Drone Base in New York State

DRONES KILL CHILDREN -- DRONES FLY, CHILDREN DIE

The United Nations General Assembly has declared today, September 21, 2015, an International World Day of Peace. As we stand here at the main gate of Hancock Air Base, its “hunter/killer” MQ9 Reaper drone arrogantly patrols Afghan skies 24/7 -- killing innocent children there and likely elsewhere.

We U.S. citizens and taxpayers look on with horror at the millions of refugees fleeing airborne terror and are shamed by our unconsented complicity. Too many drone victims are precious and beloved children. We bring their images and their silenced voices to Hancock today.

As members of the Upstate Drone Action Coalition/ To Ground the Drones and End the Wars, we come to this War Base – home of the Reaper and the 174th Attack Wing of the NY National Guard – seeking to prevent the murder of these innocents, both on this day and for all days.

Our intent is to uphold law, both domestic and international.

Our intent is to bring the images of their victims both to the Hancock chain of command and to the U.S. public.

Specifically, our intent is to say NO to the maiming, murder and terrorizing of children.

Since 2010 this grassroots Coalition has sought to expose state-sponsored drone war crime. The crime is multi-layered. It includes extrajudicial execution/assassination, contempt for due process, the undermining of international law and national sovereignty, the murder of the undeniably innocent –- both within and beyond any recognized zone of war.

Unjustified on any level, save “might makes right,” such terrorism prepares fertile ground for perpetual conflict. This criminality benefits few besides war-profiteering corporations.

To the extent that WE, THE PEOPLE ignore our laws and our Constitution -- allowing our government to kill whoever it wants, wherever it wants, however it wants -- we make the world less safe for children here and everywhere. We demand that the Hancock chain of command and the United States to STOP THE KILLING!

-- Upstate Drone Action Coalition/To Ground the Drones and End the Wars
Town of DeWitt, New York
21 September 2015