A peace camp and vigil was set up at the main gate of RAF (USAF) Lakenheath on 15th July, 3 days after about 30 people set off from Norwich to get to the base. The people at the camp are there to protest the return of US nuclear weapons to the UK.
There was a big day of events on July 20th with over 60 visitors.
During the day five women went over the line designated by the Americans as ‘their land’ in order to deliver a letter to the USAF base commanders. There have been previous attempts to deliver the letter to the commanders without success and the intention was to stay in a green area by the information centre until one of the commanders came ajd spoke to them and received the letter explaining why Lakenheath Alliance for Peace had set up a peace camp.
When asked to leave by the Suffolk Police otherwise they would be arrested under SOCPA (Serious Organised Crime Prevention Act) three of the women left.
Angie Zelter and Ginnie Herbert remained sitting safely in the middle of the road on an ‘island’. They were taken aeay by the police. After nearly 24 hours inside the Bury St Edmunds Police Investigation Centre (PIC) they were released on July 21st, on Police Bail, with condition not to go near Mildenhall and Lakenheath as they were told they would be additionally charged with aggravated trespass. Further investigations will take place with the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) ahd formal charges given at a later date? They are bailed to return to the PIC on July 29th.
Angie stated on release “Tge Suffolk Police have been very good to us all. A big thankyou. They have facilitated lawful peaceful protest around USAF Lakenheath. I believe they were disappointed to have to arrest us. After all, we were only trying to open a dialogue with the Base Commanders “
Ginnie Herbert said ” We wanted to make sure that our letter ti the Base Commanders requesting that nuclear weapons were not returned to Lakenheath was received. I crossed the white line as I felt strongly that our requests should be heard and so stayed put and was arrested. I was pleased to be making this stand “
The peace camp and vigil continues and protest will continue until US nuclear weapons are not on UK soil