Sabotage

While they were inside the people outside amused themselves by stoning the base windows, but the aim was bad and only 2 windows were broken. No stones were thrown at police or people. Police left demonstrators at least 10 yards from any part of the base and the demonstration broke up earlier than planned. As the marchers returned down to the road they found that some of the last to come up had conceived the idea of throwing rocks on the road as a measure of harmless but annoying sabotage. The idea took on fast. An observer at the top of the road could see dozens of groups of 10 or more demonstrators rolling end carrying enormous boulders onto the road, making it impossible to vehicular traffic. Others systematically dismantled fences and removed road signs. One group developed a new technique of stapling wire rope to tar seal. Patents have been applied for Basically it was an act of political vandalism, a piece of sabotage not difficult to re-pair, but at the same time an action symbollic of the demonstrators attitude to the U.S. Air Force base. It was also a sign of bitterness. Most of those also walking down the road had been injured themselves or had had close friends injured by police the night before. As individuals they were helpless before police violence. As a group they could make the Police, and even the U.S.A.F. itself, very temporarily helpless before their protest.