BLOCK 'N' A.W.E

Protest groups from all over the UK and Europe converged on the Aldermaston nuclear bomb factory this week with around 700 individuals blockading the gates for a total of 7 hours. Organised by Trident Ploughshares with support from CND, AWPC and others, the demo demanded the UK government take their supposed commitment to producing no new nuclear arms to the UN organised NPT (Non Proliferation Treaty) Review Conference in New York in May.

Each gate had its own blockade group. The protesters locked at 7am, while police watched without comment. Most staff had been told to get in early so workers were already inside the building, but protesters successfully halted any other comings and goings for most of the day, with enough numbers to combat any breaks in line the police managed.

Policing was low key, with arrests only made when some groups attempted to blockade the roads and when some entered the site at the beginning of the day. When demonstrators saw what was was happening and returned to the gates, most were ‘de-arrested’ immediately. The women’s gate saw the most arrests, as police attempted to clear one gate but leave the rest. A total of 26 people were cuffed and bailed on the day.

Spirits were kept up in the miserable weather by a band from the Basque country and Aberystwyth’s choir Cor Gobaithm, while Trident Ploughshares kept everybody warm and fed with tea, soup and sandwiches. The day ended with demonstrators from eight different countries voluntarily stopping the blockade, which had kept the site locked down for the whole day.

*http://www.tridentploughshares.org