Peace campaigner Lindis Percy was arrested and “roughed up” by Ministry of Defence police officers at a weekly vigil at Menwith Hill, a US spy base in North Yorkshire.
The 79-year old said she was dragged to a police car and heavy-handed treatment continued at Harrogate police station. The CND member was dragged down a corridor by two MoD police officers and her jacket was pulled off over her head.
Percy told a national newspaper: “On Tuesday I was doing what I usually do, passing and re-passing along the highway, which is legal. I was grabbed by one officer and another bloke and dragged to the side of the road.
“They said I was being arrested under Section 5 of the Public Order Act, which is about ‘causing alarm, harassment or distress’ to another person. I was forced along to a police car. They were very nasty and very rough.
“In the custody place at the police station there’s a corridor. They dragged me again. My hi-vis jacket came off over my head.
“There was a custody officer and I think he was quite shocked. He said he had no intention of arresting me because the incident was over.
“I am talking to barristers in London about this.”
Menwith Hill and Fylingdales in North Yorkshire form part of the US Missile Defense system. The missile system is designed to give the US control of space and the ability to launch strikes anywhere in the world without fear of retaliation.
Kate Hudson, CND general secretary, said:
“We send our solidarity to Lindis. She is a dear friend to CND and she has given so much of her life to the peace movement over many decades.
“She and other peace campaigners have a right to protest against these systems of war, violence and control without fear of police intimidation.”
If you value the work we do
please join CND so that together
we can build a more peaceful world
free from the threat of nuclear war.
