Group protests secrecy of Area 51

Sunday, June 7, 1998 | 7:36 a.m.

Norio Hayakawa of Gardena, Calif., who organized the protest, said he became interested in the level of secrecy at the base after some former workers claimed they were harmed by the burning of toxic materials.

The workers attempted to sue the federal government, but U.S. District Judge Philip Pro of Las Vegas threw out the lawsuit in March 1996 on grounds it presented a risk to national security.

Until the lawsuit, the federal government refused to even acknowledge the existence of the remote base, 90 miles north of Las Vegas.

Washington, D.C. attorney Jonathan Turley, who represents the workers, has taken the case to the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in an attempt to overturn Pro's decision.

On Saturday, the protesters, which included Turley and some of the injured workers, peacefully rallied near Area 51, where military aircraft such as the U-2, SR-71 and F-117 stealth fighter were tested.

Pat Travis, 54, who runs the Little A'Le'Inn cafe in the town of 100, said the group was also protesting what some believe to be an attempt by the federal government to impose a tyrannical "new world order" on free American patriots.