Shut Down Creech, 1st Report
REPORT # 1: SHUT DOWN CREECH
by Toby Blome
Tues. Mar. 29, 2016
We had a most successful 1st vigil on Mon. Mar. 28, with a good crowd of about 20 “Creechers” joining us for the very 1st morning vigil, with over 16 campers for the first evening at Camp Justice Sunday night.
Monday afternoon spring desert winds picked up ferociously, at times with gusts at over 60mph (evening weather reports said 70mph winds), and temperatures dropped drastically, testing our inner strength to continue our protest of drone warfare at the killer drone base known as Creech AFB, in southern Nevada. Large banners were substituted for smaller visuals and signs, including the 7 small coffins with names of 7 of the predominantly Muslim nations we have been bombing over the last 15 years. We also showed a banner for GI RIGHTS HOTLINE with its phone number. Surprisingly, we stayed our ground throughout most of the 2 hour planned vigil, in spite of strong winds and dropping body temperatures.
The winds were still blowing fiercely throughout the night, and CODEPINK welcomed all campers onto the sacred grounds of the Temple of Goddess Spirituality, where the walls of the modest guest house/mobile home provided a haven and protected us from nature’s elements. Everyone was well nourished with a simple meal and friendship…and space was found in the guest house for even the campers, as many of their tents had been blown into uninhabitable shapes! The winds howled through the night, and continued into the morning, letting up for only brief moments. Gigantic thanks to Don Kimball who held the peace fort at Camp Justice thru the night, keeping all secure. Dennis, Ralph and Ray have also been super generous, taking on the role of peace camp security crew for the entire week!
Col. Ann Wright joined us in the wee hours of the night, and woke up at 5am with the rest of us for today’s vigil….with continuing very cold gales, some of us dared to hold a few of the medium sized banners, and smaller signs and visuals. As body temperatures continued to drop, an impromptu silent “funeral procession” was created with most of the 7 coffins/countries represented, with activist Susan Witka carrying the final message, following the coffins: “Who’s Next?” The procession gave a somber tone about the overall human costs of global wars, while allowing some of the activists to warm up while being in continuous motion.
Counter protesters from town, the same 3 to 4 that have been coming regularly for years, are holding their space, in at times a very confrontation-seeking fashion, but thus far we have been able to do our best to stay within our nonviolence guidelines, and keep the confrontations from escalating, though it has been trying for some. The police have lined up barricades on most of both sides of the entrance into the base, anticipates the major civil resistance planned on Friday, but also showing favoritism, at times, to the counter-protesters. A beautiful sight this morning was seeing Phil, a local counter-protester deliver a cart load of firewood for our fire circle.
As I write this message the early afternoon winds continue to blow, with a forecast for calmer weather in time for our 3pm vigil today….let us hope so. Weather predicted to warm as week progresses. The EEK Team, “Environmentally Evolved Kids”, our beautiful children’s affinity group from Northern California, has been working hard today getting their “Angel attire” ready for the big day on Friday to SHUT DOWN CREECH.
The peace keepers bright yellow headbands were completed yesterday, thanks to the help of Arla, Maggie, Casey and Toby, ready for the “big day.”
More folks are due to arrive tonight, as we all get ready for 3 days of more scheduled activities, including civil resistance/affinity group preparedness, the Drone Whistleblowers Symposium on Wed. night, the Concert with David Rovics on Thurs. night, and the big climax on Friday to peacefully and nonviolently put a halt to the killer drone operations at Creech, for as long as possible.
We will try to update you all throughout the week.
Please consider joining us next time.
TOGETHER WE CAN:
Ground the Drones & Stop Global Warfare,
Toby Blome
SF CODEPINK