Shutdown Drone Warfare returns to Alamogordo
Local and national activists gathered Friday, April 25, in Alamogordo, New Mexico to march in protest of the ongoing genocide in Gaza and drone use in the military.
The group of about 15 people was part of a multiple protest event by Shutdown Drone Warfare that started Wednesday and ended Friday evening at Holloman Air Force Base. The small group carrying a large banner, Palestinian flags and signs protesting drone use and airstrikes in Gaza marched from Alameda Zoo Park to Otero County Courthouse. Before disrupting the Air Force Base in the evening.
Shutdown Drone Warfare is part of a national movement that began holding bi-weekly protests at Creech Air Force Base in Nevada from 2009 through 2022. In 2023, the group expanded its protest efforts to Holloman Air Force Base, where over 700 drone pilots and operators are trained annually.
Protestors chanted slogans such as "Israel lies, U.S pays, how many kids have you killed today?" and "not another nickel, not another dime, no money for Israel's crimes" as they descended upon the front of the county courthouse. Cars passing by honked their support while other drivers yelled in protest.
In front of the courthouse, protesters spoke about why they had joined the movement. Some talked about being upset with America's direction in the last eight years and their fears for the future, as well as the U.S. handling of the genocide in Gaza. While others spoke of their longtime activism and why they continue to protest.
"I didn't think I could be more radicalized till Gaza. I will continue to protest and do what I can, but I am scared. I am scared to lose my humanity by becoming desensitized to the destruction," said a protester who did not share their name.
After 18 months of ongoing genocide in Gaza due to Israeli retaliation in the wake of Hamas's siege on the Gazan borders. Official safety organizations will be unable to verify the official numbers for some time. However, the UN's recent statistics put the death toll due to airstrikes at 43,300 people, with many more bodies under rubble waiting for identification.
Recent investigations from the UN have also found close to 70% of the overall death toll is women and children. A large part due to drone use in densely populated residential areas.
"The most important thing is that we at least try because we'll never know if we can stop it. But if we don't do anything, we know we won't be able to stop it," said Toby Blomé, an SDDW organizer.
