September 2015
IN THIS E-BULLETIN
NINE ANTI-DRONE PROTESTERS ARRESTED AT BEALE AIR FORCE BASE
TRANSFORM NOW PLOWSHARES RESENTENCED TO PROBATION; RESTITUTION UPHELD BY JUDGE
ON EVE OF POPE’S U.S. VISIT, 15 ACTIVISTS ARRESTED AT WHITE HOUSE
HANCOCK DRONE BASE GATES CLOSED, FIVE ARRESTED
ACTIVISTS ARRESTED IN NEVADA AT CREECH DRONE BASE AND U.S. NUCLEAR TEST SITE
ISRAELI NUCLEAR WHISTLEBLOWER MORDECHAI VANUNU ARRESTED AGAIN
PLEASE SUPPORT IMPRISONED ANTI-NUCLEAR AND ANTI-WAR ACTIVISTS – THE NUCLEAR RESISTER NEEDS YOU!
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Nine anti-drone protesters arrested at Beale Air Force Base
Nine anti-drone protesters were arrested in a nonviolent action at Beale Air Force Base on the morning of September 29. The group acted in solidarity with the refugees around the world who are fleeing their homes because of wars. The peace and justice activists connected the tragic stories of the migrant crisis to U.S. policies that destabilize countries with ongoing bombing and violence and force the mass displacement and fleeing of millions of human beings.
Cited for federal trespass after crossing the line into the base were Barry Binks, Catherine Hourcade, Cathy Webster, Doug Bennett, Toby Blome, Mauro Oliveira, Chris Nelson, Pamela and Shirley Osgood. The arrestees, all from northern California, are members of Veterans for Peace, Bay Area Code Pink, the Nevada City/Grass Valley Peace and Justice Center and the Chico Peace and Justice Center.
Read more here.
Transform Now Plowshares resentenced to probation; $52,000 restitution upheld by judge
After hearing arguments from both sides during a teleconference re-sentencing hearing on the morning of September 15, Judge Amul Thapar sentenced Sr. Megan Rice, Greg Boertje-Obed and Michael Walli – the Transform Now Plowshares – to two years of unsupervised probation. The three were told that during that time they are not to commit any local, state or federal crimes or enter any U.S. nuclear facility. Also during the hearing, the judge declined to reduce or drop the demand for the nuclear disarmament activists to pay $52,000 in restitution.
Sr. Megan, Michael and Greg had been released from prison in May after their sabotage conviction was overturned on appeal, and the resentencing hearing took place for the remaining depredation of property charge.
Read more here.
On eve of Pope’s U.S. visit, 15 activists arrested at White House
Just prior to the historic visit of Pope Francis to the U.S. on September 22, fifteen activists were arrested at the White House. Weeks earlier they had sent a letter to President Obama which they never received a reply to, asking for a meeting to discuss the Pope’s call for the need to bring about real change in ending war, poverty, the climate crisis and systemic violence. When they arrived at the visitor’s entrance to the White House to inquire about a meeting, they were told they needed an appointment. They then sat down in solidarity with the world’s suffering.
Before long, the activists were taken into custody and charged with disorderly conduct. They were released from a D.C. jail about 9 p.m., and given an October 15 arraignment date.
Read more here.
Hancock drone base gates closed, five arrested
On the morning of September 21, five members of the grassroots human rights coalition, Upstate Drone Action to Ground the Drones and End the Wars, were arrested for closing the main gate of Hancock Airfield to call a halt to the U.S. weaponized drone program operated out of Hancock by the 174th Attack Wing of the New York Air National Guard. The activists held signs reading “Drones Kill Children” behind wooden figures of drone victims, including dead and dying children. They stated at the gates, “We U.S. citizens and taxpayers look on with horror at the millions of refugees fleeing airborne terror and are shamed by our unconsented complicity.”
They were released by Onondaga County sheriffs around noon with charges of trespass and disorderly conduct. Their court date in DeWitt Town Court is on October 14.
Read more here.
Activists arrested in Nevada at Creech drone base and U.S. nuclear test site
Three activists were arrested at Creech Air Force Base on September 21, the International Day of Peace. They were released on-site after being given different court dates later this fall. A dozen people had vigiled at the drone base that morning as part of the Nevada Desert Experience’s “Justice for our Desert” event.
The group also held a vigil at Yucca Mountain the previous day, September 20, to pray for an end to the proposed plans to house a commercial high level nuclear waste repository at the site. Afterwards, they went to the Nevada National Security Site (the U.S. nuclear test site, formerly called the Nevada Test Site). Seven people participated in nonviolent direct action and were arrested by Nye County sheriffs after crossing the line onto the site.
Read more here.
Israeli nuclear whistleblower Mordechai Vanunu arrested again
Israeli nuclear whistleblower Mordechai Vanunu was arrested on September 10 because Israeli police, at the direction of the Shin Bet, claim an interview he recently gave to Channel 2 violates the terms of his release from prison (he was released in 2004 with strict restrictions on his freedoms after serving his entire 18 year sentence). His arrest occurred despite the fact that government censors had approved the Channel 2 interview before it aired. After several hours of interrogation by police, he was released to 7 days of house arrest.
In 1986, Vanunu shared photos he took inside the Dimona nuclear facility with the London Sunday Times, which revealed to the world that Israel had a sizable nuclear arsenal.
Read more here.
Please support imprisoned anti-nuclear and anti-war activists – The Nuclear Resister needs YOU!
The Nuclear Resister is a bare bones operation that depends on grassroots support to chronicle anti-war and anti-war resistance, and support the women and men in prison for their acts of conscience. We need your help to continue this work – please read more here!! Or go directly here to make a secure online donation and find information about how to send a check. Each and every donation, large or small, will be gratefully received – thank you!