April 2016
IN THIS E-BULLETIN
DANIEL BERRIGAN, SJ DIES AT AGE 94
JEFF DIETRICH, DENNIS APEL AND DAVID OMONDI BEGIN 2 & 4 MONTH PRISON SENTENCES FOR VANDENBERG MISSILE PROTEST
MILITARY VETERANS ARRESTED BLOCKING CREECH AIR FORCE BASE
MORE ARRESTS AT CREECH AIR FORCE BASE TO STOP DRONE WARFARE
NATO 3 DEFENDANT JARED CHASE GETS MORE PRISON TIME
JUDGE DECLARES ARMS FAIR BLOCKADERS NOT GUILTY!
PLEASE SUPPORT IMPRISONED ANTI-NUCLEAR AND ANTI-WAR ACTIVISTS – THE NUCLEAR RESISTER NEEDS YOU!
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Daniel Berrigan, SJ dies at age 94
Poet, nuclear and war resister, prophet, Jesuit priest. Daniel, the last of the Berrigan brothers, died on April 30 at age 94. Thank you, Dan, for your support of the Nuclear Resister over the past 35+ years, for your encouragement, for your example. May your memory be a blessing, and shine a light on the way forward.
Read here about his remarkable life, including a statement from family members and several obituaries.
Jeff Dietrich, Dennis Apel and David Omondi begin 2 & 4 month prison sentences for Vandenberg missile protest
Three Catholic Workers were sentenced to federal prison on April 21 for their nonviolent action at Vandenberg Air Force Base on August 8, 2015 to commemorate the anniversary of the atomic bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Jeff Dietrich and Dennis Apel were in the Santa Barbara, California courtroom for a status hearing, after their noncooperation with the sentence of probation they were given in mid-March. David Omondi was present for his sentencing. Dietrich and Apel each received a four month sentence, and Omondi received a 2 month sentence. The men are required to self-surrender at the Federal Building in downtown Los Angeles: Dietrich on May 2, Omondi on May 3 and Apel on May 9.
Read more here.
Military veterans arrested blocking Creech Air Force Base
During peak morning rush hour traffic on March 31 at Nevada’s Creech drone base, eight military veterans and friends were arrested while waving Veterans for Peace flags and nonviolently blocking traffic at the East Gate on Hwy. 95, the primary commuter gate into the base. As the traffic was impeded, Las Vegas police diverted cars up the highway to less used, alternative gates. The arrestees were taken to the Las Vegas Metropolitan County Jail. The action was the first in a series of civil resistance actions during the week-long National Mass Mobilization against Drone Warfare focused on shutting down Creech Air Force Base.
Read more here.
More arrests at Creech Air Force Base to stop drone warfare
Eighteen activists were arrested on the morning of Friday, April 1 while attempting to shut down the armed drone attack program at Creech Air Force Base in Nevada. During the first action, six children and eight adults, all dressed as angels, enacted a mock funeral and drone stroke at one of the base’s main gates. A young ballerina led the procession, laying red roses in the road in front of military personnel. None of the children were arrested. Four others were arrested after blocking the other main gate at the same time. A couple of hours later, another six people were arrested after blocking the East Gate with “crime scene” tape, pointing out the criminal activity of weaponized drones.
Fifteen of the group of arrestees received citations for jaywalking, and three received citations for trespassing on federal property. They were taken to the Las Vegas Metropolitan County Jail. All were released later that day except for Brian Terrell, who had unresolved charges from prior actions. He was released on April 4.
Read more here.
NATO 3 defendant Jared Chase gets more prison time
The last man in prison for protest at the 2012 NATO Summit in Chicago has had another year added to his sentence. With consequent loss of good time on his original eight-year term, Jared Chase could serve two more years behind bars. Following his arrest and imprisonment in May, 2012, Chase was repeatedly denied treatment for symptoms of Huntington’s Disease, a neurodegenerative genetic disorder for which experts say he deserves treatment not punishment. He pled guilty and was sentenced on April 11 for assaulting a prison guard with excrement while awaiting trial. Chase was among three NATO protesters framed by undercover Chicago police instigators. All were acquitted of hysterical state terrorism charges but convicted of mob action and intent to commit arson.
Read more here.
Judge declares arms fair blockaders not guilty!
Eight activists who were arrested in September while trying to disrupt the world’s biggest arms trade fair in London were acquitted by a judge on April 15. District Judge Angus Hamilton accepted the defendants’ argument that they had tried to prevent a greater crime from occurring by blocking a road to stop tanks and other armoured vehicles from arriving at the exhibition centre. The judge ruled that there was compelling evidence that arms were illegally being sold at the DSEI arms fair. The protesters had been charged with blocking a highway.
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!