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Veterans For Peace Among 33 Arrested Outside Drone Base in New York State


By davidswanson - Posted on 23 April 2012

Three members of Veterans For Peace -- Russell Brown, John Amidon, and Elliott Adams -- were among 33 peaceful protesters arrested on Sunday outside Hancock Air Field in New York State.  Almost all of the 33 were arrested preemptively, as they walked single-file and silently along a road, prior to reaching the military base, at which they intended to approach the gate and deliver a written statement.

Here is video of the walk:

And of the arrests:

Here is a news story featuring a photo of Elliott Adams being arrested: http://www.syracuse.com/news/index.ssf/2012/04/military_protesters_turned_awa.html

VFP Logo

The Upstate Coalition to Ground the Drones reported that the Onondaga County Sheriff's Department made the arrests in Mattydale, NY, two blocks from the entrance to the base.  "Those arrested included an 87 year old woman in a wheelchair, parents (accompanying their children), a member of the press, and the group's attorney Ron Van Norstrand. Cameras, camcorders and phones were confiscated by the Sheriff's Department." http://blog.upstatedroneaction.org

Elliott Adams is Past President of Veterans For Peace, and current Nonviolent Training Coordinator.  He had also been arrested in 2011 as one of the Hancock 38 protesting at the same base.  Adams commented after this weekend's arrest:

"Once again local law enforcement obstructed me from complying with the Nuremberg principles. As a veteran of several war zones I understand the importance of international law like the Geneva conventions and the remarkable UN Charter. But as I tried to serve an indictment to those committing war crimes I was arrested preemptively.

"As veterans we know how important international laws like the Geneva conventions are. We know that weaponized drones are continuously being used to commit war crimes and even crimes against peace.  The Nuremberg Principles obligate us, as citizens, to stop our government from committing these crimes.  Our arrest on Sunday was a clear case of trampling on our 1st Amendment right to 'petition our government for a redress of grievances.'

"It is outrageous," Adams remarked, "that on the other side of this fence people are being murdered, albeit at long distance, and the Sheriff will not even investigate. On this side of the fence we are arrested for a 'violation of permit requirement.'"

Three women succeeded on Sunday in reading aloud at the base gate an indictment addressed to "the Service Members of Hancock Air Base."  The Indictment states, in part:

"By giving material support to the drone program, you as individuals are violating the Constitution, dishonoring your oath, and committing war crimes.  We charge the chain of command, from President Barack Obama, to Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta, to Commander Colonel Greg Semmel, to every drone crew, to every service member supporting or defending these illegal actions, with the following crimes: extrajudicial killings, violation of due process, wars of aggression, violation of national sovereignty, and the killing of innocent civilians."
http://warisacrime.org/content/indictment-drone-warriors

Adams' statement, made in court at the trial of the Hancock 38 last November is available online:
http://warisacrime.org/content/elliott-adams-member-hancock-38-and-new-hancock-34-made-statement-trial-november-1-2011

As is his statement at the sentencing hearing:
http://warisacrime.org/content/elliott-adams-sentencing-statement-november-11-2011

Adams told the judge: "I am proud to accept the consequences of my acts and any jail time.  I do not want any suspended sentence. If you give me one, also please let me know how I can violate it before I leave the courtroom."  The judge, however, gave Adams a suspended sentence and probation conditions.  Adams has not ceased protesting drone wars.

Veterans For Peace was founded in 1985 and has approximately 5,000 members in 150 chapters located in every U.S. state and several countries.  It is a 501(c)3 non-profit educational organization recognized as a Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) by the United Nations, and is the only national veterans' organization calling for the abolishment of war.

##

When LAWS are selectively enforced as they always have been throughout class history, THEY ARE DUPLICITOUS, CORRUPT CLASS LAWS. Even worse is when WAR CRIMINALS prosecute protestors , whistleblowers, while these NAZIS, FASCISTS, STALINISTS, LAW OFFICIAL LAW BREAKERS ARE PRETENDING TO UPHOLD THE LAWS.   THEY ARE NOT, THEY ARE EITHER SELECTIVELY ENFORCING LAWS,  OR NOT AT ALL , FOR FASCISM AND ARE FASCIST, CRIMINALS THEMSELVES.  THE COPS SELECTIVELY ENFORCE LAWS, BUT UPHOLD FASCISM, THAT IS CALLED POLICE FASCISM 

POLICE DO NOT ENFORCE INTERNATIONAL LAWS, SUPREMACY LAW, AND WHEN CONFRONTED, SAID HE DOES NOT UPHOLD TREATIES, INTERNATIONAL LAWS, HE UPHOLDS FASCISM INSTEAD:


"....Each one of you, when you joined the United States Armed Forces or police, publicly promised to uphold the United States Constitution.  We take this opportunity to call your attention to Article VI of the Constitution, which states:


'This Constitution, and the Laws of the United States which shall be made in Pursuance thereof; and all Treaties made, or which shall be made, under the Authority of the United States, shall be the supreme Law of the Land; (and the Judges in every State shall be bound thereby, any Thing in the Constitution or Laws of any State to the Contrary notwithstanding.)'


This clause is known as the supremacy clause, for it actually creates the United States as a legal entity.


"The Constitution says, in the supremacy clause, that, without exception, treaties shall be the supreme Law of the Land.


According to Webster's dictionary, a treaty is defined as ' a contract in writing between two or more political authorities (as states or sovereigns) formally signed by representatives duly authorized and usually ratified by the lawmaking authority of the state '


One Treaty duly ratified by the US is the United Nations Charter.  It was agreed to by a vote of 89 to 2 in the US Senate, and signed by the President, in 1945.  It remains in effect today. .  As such, it is the supreme law of the land.


The preamble of the UN Charter states that it’s purpose is to ‘save future generation from the scourge of war” and it further states that 'all nations shall refrain from the use of force against another nation.' 


This Treaty applies both collectively and individually to all members of the US armed forces, who have sworn to uphold the Constitution, which includes Article VI.


Under the UN Charter and long established international laws, anyone - citizen, military, politician, or judge, - that knowingly engages in illegal use of force against another nation is committing a war crime.


Today, we ask you to consider, when you promised to uphold the Constitution, you specifically promised to honor treaties - international law - as the supreme law of the land.  (Under the Uniform Code of Military Justice of the U.S., you are required to disobey any clearly unlawful order from a superior.)


We charge that the Air National Guard of the United States of America, headquartered at Hancock Field Air National Guard Base, home of the 174th Fighter Wing of the Air National Guard, under the command of 174th Fighter Wing Commander Colonel Greg Semmel, is maintaining and deploying the MQ-9 Reaper robotic aircraft.


These drones are being used both in and out of combat.


Extrajudicial targeted killings such as the U.S. carries out by unmanned aircraft drones are intentional, premeditated, and deliberate use of lethal force in violation of US and international human rights law.


Signed by, the Upstate Coalition to Ground the Drones and End the Wars


http://www.upstatedroneaction.org


POLICE FASCISM PROTECTS WAR CRIMINALS WHILE SUPPRESSING PROTESTORS, JUST LIKE NAZI GERMANY.


 

Speaking Events

2017

 

August 2-6: Peace and Democracy Conference at Democracy Convention in Minneapolis, Minn.

 

September 22-24: No War 2017 at American University in Washington, D.C.

 

October 28: Peace and Justice Studies Association Conference



Find more events here.

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