Monthly Archive for October, 2013

Nuclear resisters found guilty of trespassing at Bangor Trident base

Posted on October 25, 2013
(Left to right), Front row: Jerry, Denny; Back row: Bix, Susan, Betsy, Mary Jane & Ed

(Left to right), Front row: Jerry, Denny; Back row: Bix, Susan, Betsy, Mary Jane & Ed

Federal Trial for the 2013 PLC Resisters: The Wrap Up

by Leonard Eiger

Greetings Pacific Life Community members and friends,

Seven members of the Pacific Life Community stood trial in US District Court on Monday, October 21. They were charged with trespassing, stemming from their arrests during the March 4, 2013 nonviolent direct action at Naval Base Kitsap-Bangor.

William “Bix” Bicshel, SJ; Susan Crane; Ed Ehmke, Betsy Lamb; Denny Moore; Mary Jane Parrine and Jerry Zawada, OFM appeared before Chief Magistrate Judge Mary Alice Theiler in United States District Court, Western District of Washington in Tacoma.

 » Read more…

Judge finds activists who blocked the entrance to NY drone base NOT GUILTY

Posted on October 25, 2013

1381378_595702030465762_828414463_nHISTORIC ACQUITTAL OF ASH WEDNESDAY ANTI-DRONE WITNESS AT HANCOCK AIR BASE, NY

In a historic decision, five Catholic Worker activists were acquitted October 24 of disorderly conduct charges for blocking the main entrance to Hancock Air Base, home of the 174th Attack Wing of the Air National Guard, Syracuse, New York. Hancock is a Reaper drone hub whose technicians pilot weaponized drones over Afghanistan.

The five went “pro se,” defending themselves in the De Witt town court of Judge Robert Jokl.

In his closing statement Fr. Bill Picard said, “We pray for you, Judge Jokl, to have the courage to do the right and courageous thing.”

 » Read more…

Update from the Transform Now Plowshares Support Team

Posted on October 6, 2013
Greg, Megan and Michael outside the federal courthouse before the start of their trial in Knoxville, May 2013. Photo by Felice Cohen-Joppa

Greg, Megan and Michael outside the federal courthouse before the start of their trial in Knoxville, May 2013. Photo by Felice Cohen-Joppa

Dear friends and supporters of the Transform Now Plowshares,

We continue to ask for your support and help.  Sentencing for Sr. Megan Rice, Greg Boertje-Obed and Michael Walli has been postponed until January 28, 2014.  On October 1, we received word that Judge Amul Thapar denied the motion to dismiss the sabotage conviction as well as denied the motion for a new trial. For complete background information please visit www.transformnowplowshares@wordpress.com

 » Read more…

With chains, tubes, cakes and dragons, Welsh activists blockade Burghfield AWE nuclear weapons site

Posted on October 6, 2013

1235297_615572321798414_1121065624_nby Ray Davies, CND Cymru Vice Chair

The Welsh Blockade of Burghfield AWE on October 3 turned out to be one of the highlights of my year.

Our bus from Wales was full to overflowing with activists from Aberystwyth, Knighton, Cefn Forest, Blackwood Cardiff, Builth, Llandeilo and Swansea, and we had to commandeer a second van to transport our large dragons.

We were all in high spirits. Our love of peace was the motivation that drove us to act. After a night without much sleep at the Friends Meeting House in Reading, we were up at 5 a.m. and off to the nuclear bomb factory at Burghfield.

 » Read more…