The Campaign for the Accountability of American Bases (CAAB) has been resisting the occupation and control of the US Visiting Forces in the UK for over 20 years. CAAB’s long term aim is to send the US Visiting Forces and their Agencies back to within their borders.

NSA Menwith Hill is the largest US intelligence gathering and surveillance base outside the US. It is secret, unaccountable and out of control of the UK government. Not only run by the National Security Agency of America, there is a contingent of GCHQ personnel present at this base, and it operates the ECHELON system. The base spies on you. Other very concerning roles are that it is involved with intelligence-led warfare eg DRONES and is crucially connected with US Missile Defense and much more.

CAAB has held a demonstration every Tuesday evening (6-8pm) outside the main entrance to Menwith Hill for the past 12 years, confronting the presence of the National Security Agency of America (NSA) on British soil. This regular presence is used to flag up, literally, matters of concern such as the persecution of Bradley Manning and now NSA whistleblower Edward Snowden. There’s a dedicated Bradley Manning page on the CAAB website.

Tuesday 11 June: Solidarity with Bradley Manning and Edward Snowden at weekly demo

Lindis Percy of CAAB writes:

At the Tuesday pm weekly demonstration at NSA Menwith Hill last week I tied an upside down US flag to the fence with the words THANK YOU BRADLEY MANNING AND EDWARD SNOWDEN.

The flag was purposely left up on the fence where it would be seen by the party of three US Visiting Forces who come to take down the US flag opposite each night. In the past, Lindis has been arrested, prosecuted and imprisoned for walking across the base car park that lies between the road and the fence. However, persistence sometimes pays off and these days she goes unmolested.

Last Tuesday, one of the Ministry of Defence police officers took the flag down and came after the demonstrators with it, indicating that they had forgotten to take it with them. Lindis explained:

I told him that we were leaving it on the fence. I asked him if he would give it to Christopher Gilmore (US Commander) – a present from CAAB. He said he would make sure he got it. The base now has several of these upside down US flags saying thank you to Bradley Manning… and now also brave, honest and principled Edward Snowden.

4th July: Independence FROM America Demo at Menwith Hill

This event takes place at NSA Menwith Hill every year, co-ordinated by CAAB. You can read a report from last year’s demo here. Everyone welcome – If you don’t know much about what goes on at NSA Menwith Hill, 4 July is a good time to find out.

Speakers this year will include Salma Yaqoob, Andy Worthington, Martin Wainwright, Mizan the Poet. Hot vegan food will be provided by the 1 in 12 cafe.

Date: Thursday 4 July
Time: 5pm – 9pm
Place: Meet at gates of NSA Menwith Hill, near Harrogate North Yorkshire HG3 2RF
More info: 01423 884 076 or 07949 897 904

All welcome!