DEWITT, N.Y. -- Seven drone protesters were arrested Monday morning at the Hancock Field Air National Guard Base in DeWitt.



The Upstate Drone Action protesters blocked the entrance to the base with several large signs and banners, and refused to remove them.

"Officers from the base came out and told us to leave, and when we didn't, we were arrested," Upstate Drone Action founding member Ed Kinane said. "We're trying to make a statement about the war crimes being committed at the air base with drones that kill human beings."

Kinane said DeWitt police arrested him. Six others also were taken into custody and brought to DeWitt Town Hall, where they were given appearance tickets. All seven were charged with disorderly conduct and trespass, both violations.

Those charged were: Ann Tiffany, of Syracuse; Dan Burgevin, of Trumansburg; Kinane, of Syracuse; Harry Murray, of Rochester; Julienne Oldfield, of Syracuse; Mark Scibilia-Carver, of Trumansburg; and Rae Kramer, of Syracuse.

They were released on tickets and will be arraigned on the charges Oct. 3-5 in DeWitt Town Court.

The protesters said they placed a "huge dollar sign dripping with blood in the main entrance way to the base.

"The six-foot high dollar signs dramatize what the group believes determines the many overseas wars the Pentagon/CIA engages in: Corporate greed," Upstate Drone Action said in a news release announcing the arrests.

In 2010, the Hancock base became the site of the 174th Attack Wing of the National Guard's MQ-9 Reaper drone operations and the first to have an MQ-9 remotely piloted aircraft squadron. The drones have missions in Afghanistan and elsewhere.

Activist groups opposing drones, like Upstate Drone Action, hold regular demonstrations at the Hancock base. There have been about 200 anti-Reaper arrests at the base since 2010, according to the group.