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On Friday, November 18, a group of peace activists from St. Louis, North Carolina, and Chicago entered the property of Aero Contractors near Smithfield, North Carolina, to deliver an indictment of their illegal activities. The indictment accuses Aero of providing planes and pilots for the CIA's program of extraordinary rendition that flies terror suspects to locations where they will likely be tortured.
Other members of the group held signs along Route 70 during rush hour traffic to alert commuters to Aero's activities. Copies of the indictment are being delivered throughout the day to members of the Johnston County Council and Johnston County Airport Commission urging them to take action to put an end to Aero's illegal activities.
videos: excerpts of the action. (35.5 MB) || letter and copy of the indictment being delivered to Ray Blackmon, Director of the Johnston County Airport. (20.7 MB)
see also: Stop Torture Now || 14 Arrests Today at NC Protest of CIA Torture-Prison Flights || Five St. Louis Protesters Arrested Outside Aero Contractors Ltd || List of CIA Planes in North Carolina || What Is AERO CONTRACTORS? Here's the rundown || CIA flights in Europe round-up
UPDATE (Nov 18, 2005 - 12:10 pm EST): Fourteen of the protestors were arrested outside the offices of Aero Contractors Ltd. Eight were from the social justice activist community in and around the Johnston County, NC area, five were activists from Stop Torture Now and the Center for Theology & Social Analysis in St. Louis, and one, Kathy Kelly, founder of Voices in the Wilderness, was from Chicago. The activists were arrested while presenting their open lament for the victims of the CIA torture policy, including those detainees who have been renditioned with the help of Aero Contractors. Download video excerpts of the action here. (Quicktime - 35.5MB)
Immediately following the arrests, other activists delivered an indictment charging Aero Contractors with violations of federal criminal law and international law. The indictments were delivered to officers and directors of Aero Contractors Ltd. Copies were also delivered to the director of Johnston County Airport, members of the Johnston County Airport Authority and the Johnston County Board of Commissioners. The letters asked the airport and the county to investigate the charges raised in the indictment and to take appropriate measures to cease Aero Contractors' operations in furtherance of extraordinary rendition. Download the indictment against Aero Contractors. Here is a video of the letter and copy of the indictment being delivered to Ray Blackmon, Director of the Johnston County Airport. (Quicktime - 20.7MB)
Here are some of the people who are taking part in Friday morning's action in North Carolina.
Read an account of the action and some of our thoughts about the United States and Torture
Uncrucify Them: An Exercise of the Imagination.
During the day on Friday you can call 314-558-1197 or 314-249-7890 for further information and updates.