Stop The Star Wars!

Around 500 people attended a demonstration at Menwith Hill American Spy Base in the Yorkshire Dales. Menwith Hill is the largest US spy base in the world, from which the US top-secret intelligence service can eavesdrop on all of the telecommunications in the Northern Hemisphere, including e-mail, telephones etc without the knowledge of the user.

The demo had a Star Wars theme to highlight the militaristic future planned by the 'evil empire', also known as the USA. Menwith Hill is expanding to become a relay station for the US National Defence System which will intercept and shoot down missiles. This is in breach of international treaties and will lead to an escalation of the arms race.

Protestors, some dressed as Luke Skywalker, Darth Vader, Chewbacca, Jedi knights and other characters from the T.V programme Star Wars, heard speeches by comedian Mark Thomas and the local mayor (!?), then marched around the whole perimeter of the base. Many broke the illegal byelaws by walking across land owned by the base. Regular demonstrations are held at the base.

For more information about how Big Brother listens to you, contact Yorkshire CND on 01274 730795.