SARATOGA SPRINGS — A Saratoga social faced possible jail time for protesting against the United States’ use of drones in the Middle East and the deaths they have caused.
As of Wednesday, peace activists Linda LeTendre was charged with disorderly conduct and could be sentenced to 15 days in jail although she committed no felonies or misdemeanors.
LeTendre, 57, said she went to Hancock Air Force Base in Syracuse on February 13 (Ash Wednesday) to submit a war crimes indictment, but her and fellow protesters were not allowed to enter the base.
The topic of using the unmanned aerial vehicles in warfare has been brought up by human rights groups as illegal and immoral because of accidental civilian deaths.
When LeTendre and protesters were not permitted onto the base grounds, they held photographs of children killed by American drone strikes and prayed outside. When the protest group refused to move out of the base’s driveway, they were charged with disorderly conduct.
The arresting officer delivered the indictment to the base commander.
The group was later offered a plea bargain, which would let everyone off with no jail time, fines or court fees. LeTendre refused.
