photo by Marcia Gagliardi
from Shut It Down affinity group
VERNON, Vermont—Timing their presence to coincide with the end of the day shift at Entergy’s Vermont Yankee nuclear power plant on Monday, July 15, eight women of the Shut It Down Affinity Group displayed signs from a legally-designated spot across Route 142 from the power plant driveway as workers exited.
Linda Pon Owens of Brattleboro and Ulrike Moltke of Sharon counted more than 150 vehicles. Drivers of many of the vehicles waved cheerfully to the demonstrators, who returned the salutation. The thermometer registered 93 degrees Fahrenheit, and one worker called “Stay hydrated, Ladies,” to the demonstrators.
After forty-five minutes of legal demonstration, the women crossed the road and blocked the power plant gate, and an Entergy guard warned them that if they did not leave they would be arrested. Shortly, Vernon Police Officer Albry Crowley arrived and arrested the Shut It Downers. She transported them to the Vernon Police Station where they were booked and released. No charges were assigned; Vermont law allows sixty days for designating charges.
Those arrested were: from Vermont, Julia Bonafine, 44, of Shrewsbury and Owens, 74 and Moltke, 69 and, all from Massachusetts, Marcia Gagliardi, 65, and Hattie Nestel, 74, of Athol; Anneke Corbett, 70, of Florence; Connie Harvard, 65, of Northampton; Ellen Graves, 72, of West Springfield.
photo by Marcia Gagliardi
The women wore colorful tee shirts hand-painted by Deb Reger of Corinth. Each tee shirt has a different design and proclaims “Shut Down Vermont Yankee.”