Airmen advised to avoid upcoming demonstrations

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Nathan Gallahan
  • 48th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
RAF LAKENHEATH, England --  Two protests are scheduled to take place this weekend in London.

All military members, dependents and DoD employees are advised to avoid both areas during the demonstration periods for their safety.

Amnesty International will hold demonstrations outside the U.S. Embassy (Grosvenor Square) Jan. 10 and 11 marking the 6th anniversary of the opening of Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. This planned demonstration is intended as a media event involving a very elaborate "street theatre" with demonstrators wearing prison and military uniforms.

A "Freedom to Protest" demonstration is scheduled for Jan. 12 in Trafalgar Square, London at 1 p.m. The protest is being held to call attention to the U.K. Government's "Consultation on Managing Protests around Parliament," which they feel will further restrict citizen's rights to protest around the country.

"It is increasingly important to monitor your surroundings at all times and exercise caution while traveling to large cities or at large gathering areas," said Master Sgt. Tracy Carpenter, 100th Air Refueling Wing Anti-Terrorism Office. "With Friday being a goal day for both wings, a lot of people may want to go down to the embassy to take care of business, and that's right in the heart of these demonstrations."

Master Sgt. Carpenter recommends the following individual protective measures:
1. Be alert to your surroundings and cautious of your conversation while utilizing public transportation or in public venues.
2. Avoiding demonstration areas or spontaneous rallies.
3. Maintain 100 percent passport and ID card accountability.
4. Notifying your chain of command of travel plans ensuring they have an accurate means of contacting you in case of emergency.
5. Do not display large sums of money.
6. Try to stay low key as much as possible.
7. Don't dress in a manner in which you stand out. Blend in.
8. Check for further travel advisory messages from the State Department and/or Embassy (see links)

Links
State Department: http://www.state.gov/
Embassy: http://usembassy.state.gov/
Current travel warnings: http://travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/tw/tw_1764.html

(The 100th Air Refueling Wing Antiterrorism Office provided the information for this article.)