The MU condemns the use of sonic weapons against peaceful protestors supporting their community in the face of unprecedented levels of state sanctioned violence. Image credit: Shutterstock.
Long-Range Acoustic Devices (LRADs) put out sound that can reach up to 160dB. They can be used to share verbal warnings over long distances or to emit a loud screeching noise that can incapacitate individuals in its path. At the higher levels, they can cause serious and permanent injury.
The devices were developed for the US military as a “non lethal weapon” and have been used in conflicts such as Iraq where it was deployed in 2004. They have also been used in some countries as crowd control, including an LRAD “deployed” in “loud hailer mode” at the London Olympics in 2012.
Writing for The Conversation, Brisbane based composer, artist and curator – and former Adjunct Research Fellow at Griffith University – explains, “It is specially designed to be weighted to transmit sound loaded in the frequency range where human hearing is most sensitive, roughly 2,000–4,000 Hertz.”
We condemn the use of sonic weapons against peaceful protesters
The Musicians’ Union has historically stood against the weaponisation of music and sound, campaigning against the use of music as a form of psychological torture.
Sonic weapons can cause serious life changing injuries. We condemn their use against peaceful protestors supporting their community in the face of unprecedented levels of state sanctioned violence.
What happened in Minnesota?
Reports are circulating on social media that the National Guard used an LRAD on people protesting ICE in Minnesota.
It follows an escalation of violence following the US Government's deployment of ICE in the state, including the detention of five-year old US citizen Liam Ramos, and the killing of prize-winning poet, hobby guitarist and mother of three Renee Nicole Good and intensive care nurse Alex Pretti.
Watch the CBS News report below: