Greenham and Women in Black Blockade, October 1-3, 2006

Altogether round 80-90 women took part in blockades and visibility actions at the Faslane nuclear base from Sunday October 1st to Tuesday October 3rd, making links and opposing Trident at the start of Faslane 365. Thirteen women were arrested on the second day, as Greenham women combined with Women in Black to keep a highly visible presence at the North Gate for three days. In addition to women from all over Britain, there was participation from abroad, including six women from Women in Black Belgium, France and Palestine, and a member of the Women's International League for Peace and Freedom from the United States.

As part of our objective of visibility, women camped on both sides of the gate and on the verge nearby. We put up a lot of banners and set up shelters where food and meetings could be shared. We crossed and recrossed the roads in front of the gate, learned Scottish dancing on the roundabout, enjoyed a chaotic ceilidh (ably abetted by some wonderful fiddle-playing), handed out leaflets on Trident, and held workshops.

Monday morning, from 7.20 onwards (just before and during the shift change) 12 women were arrested as small groups conducting consecutive blocks over a period of about an hour. A 13th woman was arrested much later in the day. All were charged with 'breach of the peace', although our actions varied from lying down and directly blocking traffic to impeding traffic with conga dancing - as well as crossing the roundabout equipped with a cup of cocoa, contrary to police instructions. The radio news said that traffic was backed up for over an hour.

13 arrested women were taken to Clydebank police station and held in separate cells for 30 hours before being informed that the procurator fiscal had decided not to press any charges. The thirteen were released around 12.00-1.00 pm on Tuesday October 3rd, to be greeted by cheers and a song from the supporting group, who were at the police station with transport. On getting back to the base, we were greeted by the women who had held the camp while we were incarcerated, keeping up the visible presence at the North Gate. We held a debrief and took down the camp at around 6 pm, before closing with some more singing and dancing on the roundabout as dusk fell. See below for more detail and points to ponder that incoming groups might find useful.