Americans protest Washington’s use of drones

CodePink activists protesting against the use of US drones in San Diego on April 5, 2013.

In the US states of California and Illinois, people have taken to the streets in protest against Washington’s use of surveillance and assassination drones.

The anti-drone demonstrators led by CodePink gathered in downtown San Diego, on Saturday.

"San Diego is ground-zero for the production of these lethal weapons that are killing innocent people and making the US hated around the world," CodePink co-founder Medea Benjamin said.

Protesters held signs reading, “Made locally, killing globally” and “Drones kill children.”
In San Diego, more than 7,100 people are reportedly employed in the production of the unmanned aerial drones, including at General Atomics and Northrop Grumman.

The protest comes a day after demonstrators gathered in front of the La Jolla home of chief executive of General Atomics, Neal Blue.

Also in Chicago, anti-war activists protested at Boeing’s headquarters, on Friday.

“The drones are being used in violation of international law. They are carrying out a mass campaign of terror in Pakistan, where according to a study done by Stanford, there’s 2,500 to 3,500 deaths,” anti-war activists Joe Iosbaker said.

Activists also protested against the use of surveillance drones inside the United States.

Last month, local US lawmakers in states such as Arizona, Montana, and Idaho pressed for enacting laws that would outlaw the use of the so-called surveillance drones.

Washington uses assassination drones in several countries including Pakistan and Yemen, claiming that they target “terrorists.” According to witnesses, however, the attacks have mostly led to massive civilian casualties.
SZH/PR