David Hartsough / Nonviolent Peaceforce
Peace Activists Block Gates at Travis AFB
To ‘Stop Supply Chain for Weapons to Israel’
David Hartsough / Nonviolent Peaceforce
TRAVIS AFB / FAIRFIELD, CA (November 19, 2024) — Peace activists from throughout California have announced mass “rallies and human blockades” Wednesday, Nov. 20 at 6:30 a.m. at Travis Air Force Base — the state’s largest air base — to “Nonviolently stop the supply chain for weapons to Israel.”
To institute a “People’s Arms Embargo,” peace protestors are scheduled to block all Travis AFB gates — part of the supply chain of weapons for Israel, including, “Main Gate/Hospital Gate, North Gate, and; Commercial Gate (South Gate). Nov. 20 is “World Children’s Day,” and protest organizers noted that more than 12,000 children have been killed in Gaza.
“Some experts estimate the total death toll nearing 200,000, with most bodies still under the rubble; 70% are women and children,” charges co-organizer Toby Blomé. “Our conscience calls us to act to halt the worst humanitarian horrors of the 21st century.”
Demonstrators are expected to bring “bloody” shroud-covered (mock) baby or child corpses because, “This is what genocide looks like.”
Map and Directions here:
Background:
“After over a year of US funded genocide in Palestine, and mass protests across the country, our government is STILL ignoring the will of the majority of Americans who say no to tax $$ and weapons to aid Israel’s ongoing slaughter in Gaza: Congress is preparing to send $20 billion MORE in military aid to support this horrific violence on mostly civilians,” according to organizers.
The coalition emphasizes that sending arms to Israel violates numerous Federal and International laws, including the Nuremberg Principles that prohibit crimes against humanity:
“Killing over 43,000 people, mostly women and children, with US bombs and weapons in Gaza is a crime against humanity. We cannot remain silent. We are putting our bodies between these bombs and the children of Gaza by blocking workers loading these bombs onto planes headed to Israel. We appeal to the workers at Travis and the American people to help us stop this madness,” said co-organizer and Quaker, David Hartsough, San Francisco.
Contacts:
PRE-EVENT: Toby Blomé, CodePink toby4peace@sonic.net,
MAIN GATE: Wynd Kaufmyn, kaufmyn@aol.com,
NORTH GATE: Fred Bialy, fred.bialy@sonic.net,
COMMERCIAL GATE/SOUTH GATE: Janie Kesselman, janiekess@gmail.com,
POST-EVENT: Wynd Kaufmyn, kaufmyn@aol.com,
David Hartsough is the author of WAGING PEACE: Global Adventures of a Lifelong Activist, PM Press 2014. (Available at www.pmpress.org)
Arrests made during Israel protest at Travis AFB on December 28, 2023.
Peace Activists Arrested Blocking Gates to Travis
CBS News
FAIRFIELD, California (November 20, 2024) — The Fairfield Police Department announced 14 arrests related to a Gaza ceasefire protest that blocked the entrance of Travis Air Force Base early Wednsday morning.
The protesters, numbering about 150, began their rally around 6 a.m., at which time the Fairfield Police Department and representatives of the Travis Air Force Base said they met with the organizers to allow them their constitutional right to protest while also ensuring service members were able to get on base.
“Unfortunately, almost immediately after that meeting, some of the protestors moved into the street and blocked both the North and South gates,” a release from the police department said.
The department also said that the protesters were then asked to leave the roadway several times individually and told they could continue their demonstration on the side of the road.
Fairfield police said that they took 10 protesters from the North Gate and four from the South Gate entrance into custody after they allegedly did not comply with these commands and were subsequently booked into Solano County Jail for refusal to disperse.
Travis AFB also confirmed that one protester, after crossing onto Travis AFB property, was briefly detained at the scene by Travis AFB Security Forces and promptly turned over to the Fairfield Police Department for further processing.
Organizers said groups and attendees at the protest included Youth4Palestine-Sacramento, SF Bay Area CODEPINK, the Peace & Justice Center of Nevada County and Veterans For Peace.
“At a time when 70% of Americans polled, including 80% of Democrats, support a ceasefire resolution, it is appalling that the vast majority of Congress and our Democratic president are inhibiting a ceasefire, and continuing to send military aid to Israel,” a press release from organizers stated.
“We have very few choices left, but to call on our own military to act out of conscience, and stand up for basic human rights of the Palestinian people,” said Toby Blome, one of the organizers.
The department said no force was used and no injuries were reported as a result of the protest or arrests.
As of 9:30 a.m., the roadways were cleared and access to the base had returned to normal.
Comments
Jim Haber: “I believe the number arrested is 21 — 15 at main gate and 6 where I was, the south gate.” Click this link to see Jim’s photos from the protest: https://photos.app.goo.gl/QbvFar3nKRryxz5NA
Margaret Mead: “Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful committed citizens can change the world: Indeed it’s the only thing that ever has.”
