A group of protesters gathered in front of RAF Mildenhall, England, Monday to protest U.S. involvement in the Middle East. (Bryan Mitchell / S&S)
RAF MILDENHALL, England — The recent surge of violence in the Middle East prompted several dozen peace activists to converge on the home of the 100th Air Refueling Wing on Monday afternoon.
The activists, most of them retired and members of various anti-war organizations, staged the protest at the front gate and held placards that criticized America’s involvement in the Middle East.
Marguerite Finn stood in the center of the group holding a sign that read “Not in my name,” as she did with one other protester Sunday.
Finn, a member of the Norwich branch of the Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom, served as the unofficial spokeswoman for activists.
“Israel has gone completely mad and the U.S. is playing a game of its own,” Finn said. “Now the U.S. wants to restructure the Middle East in its own image.”
The activists alerted the British Ministry of Defence of their plan to protest and about a dozen officers were on hand to provide security and ensure order. Two officers took pictures and videotaped the protesters in what an officer described as “evidence-gathering.”
A handful of the protesters sat in portable chairs as they were too frail to stand at length.
Isle Bell, 82, said she was one of 10,000 Jewish children evacuated to England in 1938. On Monday, the member of the Norwich branch of the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament rallied against Israel.
“I’m absolutely horrified about what’s happening,” she said.
The 100th ARW issued a brief statement on the protest.
“We respect the right for peaceful protest,” said Capt. Tisha Wright, spokeswoman for the 100th Air Refueling Wing. “Peaceful protests are a part of democracy and we respect that.”
