Peace protesters make a point (From Stroud News and Journal)

Peace protesters make a point

STROUD'S peace protesters launched a campaign against the Fairford Air Tattoo with military precision on Thursday.

A huge banner was draped over the Merrywalks footbridge and demonstrators handed out leaflets in the High Street.

Even the News & Journal, which was one of the media sponsors of the event, did not escape as posters with anti-war slogans were taped over the office windows during a late-night sortie.

The leaflets questioned the morality of using warplanes built to kill as entertainment. "Bombers are designed for no other purpose than to fly, destroy and kill," read the leaflets, which dubbed the event an Celebration of Destruction.

"How has this horror become entertainment?"

Despite the protests the event went ahead as planned, drawing massive crowds.

While Stroud protesters boycotted the event Lindis Percy, a veteran campaigner from Yorkshire, did not.

The 61-year-old was arrested on suspicion for aggravated trespass at the event.

She was taken to Stroud police station to be interviewed and appeared before Cheltenham magistrates on Monday afternoon.

Her case was adjourned and she was granted conditional bail. She will have to return to the court on August 19.

Horsley's Roger Franklin, a regular peace campaigner himself, told the News & Journal that Ms Percy was a well-know figure in the peace movement and this was far from her first arrest.

"She runs the Camapaign Against American Bases," he said.

"They produce a newsletter and they concentrate on Yorkshire but they take in all the American bases they can find.

"She was going into restricted areas and I understand she got quite close to the stealth bomber before she was arrested."