Three Citizen Activists Arrested at NSA In Killer Drone Protest

National Campaign for Nonviolent Resistance [NCNR], 325 East 25th Street, Baltimore, MD 21218 Email mobuszewski at verizon.net; Phone 410-366-1637

Three Citizen Activists Arrested at NSA In Killer Drone Protest

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: May 4, 2014

Contacts: Joy First 608 239-4327, Malachy Kilbride 571-501-3729, Max Obuszewski 410-366-1637 or mobuszewski at Verizon.net

WHO: Members of the National Campaign for Nonviolent Resistance (NCNR) have been speaking out against the illegal actions of the United States government since 2003. They have organized numerous actions across the country involving nonviolent civil resistance as they call attention to the violent crimes of our government.

WHAT: Members of NCNR sent a letter to Vice Admiral Michael Rogers, the director of the National Security Agency, calling for an end to the NSA’s involvement in the illegal drone assassination program. The NSA plays a significant role in targeting victims of U.S. killer drone strikes, and must be held responsible for being involved in an illegal and unconstitutional strategy which has killed, it is believed, six U.S. citizens and thousands of non-combatants. There was no response to the letter.

So twenty citizen activists went to Fort Meade to seek a meeting. First, they gathered along side Route 32 to protest killer drone strikes. Then each person read five names of children killed by U.S. drone strikes. Next they simulated a drone strike, and most of the protesters then died-in and became victims of a drone attack. The die-in continued for about 20 minutes, and Janice Sevre-Duszynska, a Roman Catholic woman priest, wailed and ministered to the victims. Dick Ochs performed his own drone song and played the guitar. Then the victims arose as there was work to be done.

The citizen activists were headed to the guard station to seek a meeting with someone in a policy-making role. As they marched, they sang Peace, Shalom. However, NSA police blocked the public road and arrested Baltimore residents Ellen Barfield and Marilyn Carlisle and Manijeh Saba from Somerset, New Jersey.

WHEN AND WHERE: Saturday, May 4, 2014 at 2:30 PM at the NSA at Fort Meade, Maryland

WHY: Within the last month yet another US drone strike took place in Yemen killing dozens of "suspected terrorists". Sadly, the Obama administration is following in the footsteps of the Bush Administration, keeping this country in a state of perpetual war. NCNR members must resist such an offensive foreign policy. Congress has never declared war against Pakistan or Yemen, yet drones have attacked citizens of both counties despite a lack of due process.

The National Campaign for Nonviolent Resistance believes that this assassination program violates international law, and will continue to join with other organizations across the country in resisting this abomination. The three citizen activists arrested at the National Security Agency were abiding by their Nuremberg Obligation. The Nuremberg Principles make it clear that when a government is engaged in illegal activities, citizens must take action. Barfield, Carlisle and Saba are facing three federal charges—failure to comply with a lawful order, entering protected property and disorderly conduct. They will eventually be arraigned in federal court in Baltimore, but a date is yet to be determined. The three citizen activists look forward to appearing in court, as they hope to put the drone assassination program on trial.

"I believe in the principle declared at Nuremberg in 1945: "Individuals have international duties which transcend the national obligations of obedience. Therefore individual citizens have the duty to violate domestic laws to prevent crimes against peace and humanity from occurring." -- Edward Snowden