Press release issued by Lakenheath Alliance for Peace on 26 July 2024:
“We Came in Peace. We Leave in Peace. We Will Return in Peace”
On July 25th 2024 after setting off from Norwich, Norfolk, UK on 13th July and 10 days of a 24/7 camp and vigil outside the main gate of RAF (USAF) Lakenheath to protest the return of US nuclear weapons to UK soil; the Lakenheath Alliance for Peace (LAP) camp ceremonially packed up on 25th July and left a gift of an olive tree to the USAF Base Commanders ‘In Peace’. It is hoped it will be received with courtesy, unlike the refusal to receive a letter explaining why the peace camp was there; which resulted in the arrest of two of the people trying to deliver the letter.
As each day of the Peace Camp passed more and more people beeped their horns, waved at the people at the camp and stopped to say hello. The support for the camp and its message of peace got stronger and stronger. Talking to a group of young men one day and they said ‘We really respect what you are doing. Your message is clear of No Nuclear Weapons at USAF Lakenheath and we agree with it. None of us want war or the USAF base there’. ‘Your peaceful camp, without disrupting local people’s lives, is welcomed’. Over the time at the peace camp over a hundred people took part and there were many local visitors calling in the give their support. Local media coverage was positive and awareness is being raised about what happens at RAF (USAF) Lakenheath.
Supporting events took place in other areas of the UK, including Bradford and District CND at RAF Menwith Hill peace camp. More organisations and individuals are joining Lakenheath Alliance for Peace and they will continue to try and have a dialogue with USAF base commanders. The Peace Camp will return to continue peacefully demanding that no US nuclear weapons be brought to UK soil. This is a beginning.
“We Came in Peace. We Leave in Peace. We Will Return in Peace”
