February/March 2017
IN THIS E-BULLETIN
ACTIVISTS BLOCK GATE TO WARSHIP “CHRISTENING”, NINE ARRESTED
THIRTEEN NUCLEAR RESISTERS ARRESTED AT BANGOR TRIDENT BASE
TRIO ARRESTED AFTER REMOVING METAL SWORD FROM AUSTRALIAN WAR MEMORIAL CRUCIFIX
DRONE RESISTERS ACQUITTED BY NEW YORK JURY!
SIX ANTI-DRONE ACTIVISTS ARRESTED AT BEALE AIR FORCE BASE
PLEASE SUPPORT IMPRISONED ANTI-NUCLEAR AND ANTI-WAR ACTIVISTS – THE NUCLEAR RESISTER NEEDS YOU!
___________________________________________________
Activists block gate to warship “christening”, nine arrested
Nine activists were arrested during a snow storm on Saturday morning, April 1 at Bath Iron Works (BIW) in Maine during a “christening” of a destroyer outfitted with so-called “missile defense” systems. The group blocked the ceremony entry gate and were charged with trespass on BIW property. All were released after paying $60 bail and have a May 16 arraignment. The protest called for the conversion of BIW to build commuter rail systems, solar, wind turbines and tidal power systems, which would employ many times more people than building warships does.
Read more here.
Thirteen nuclear resisters arrested at Bangor Trident base
On March 7, members of the Pacific Life Community gathered in the snow and rain for a protest at the Naval Base Kitsap-Bangor, the Pacific homeport of the Trident nuclear ballistic missile submarine fleet. Seven of the activists were arrested after blocking the road on the state side of the base property line with large banners reading “War is Immoral” and “Abolish Nuclear Weapons”. They were ticketed and released. Six others crossed over the line onto the federal side, where they read sections of the Nuremberg Principles out loud before being arrested by military police. They were charged with trespass and received ban and bar letters before being released.
Read more here.
Trio arrested after removing metal sword from Australian war memorial crucifix
Brisbane-area Catholic Workers and friends visited the Australian city’s historic Toowong Cemetery on Ash Wednesday afternoon, March 1. At the gate stands a large stone crucifix, adorned by a metal sword that marks it as a war memorial. Jim Dowling used a crowbar to remove the sword. Tim Webb then placed it on an anvil and reshaped it into a garden hoe, “beating swords into plowshares and spears into pruning hooks”. Witness Andy Paine was also arrested. The men were charged with willful damage, and released with a court date. In their statement they wrote, “We pray for a time to come when all Christians will refuse to kill their brothers and sisters in war.”
Read more here.
Drone resisters acquitted by New York jury!
Four drone resisters who had been arrested in 2015 at Hancock drone base – James Ricks, Daniel Burns, Brian Hynes and Ed Kinane – were found innocent of all charges on March 2 at 11 p.m. at the Dewitt Town Court in New York. After deliberating for only about a half hour, the jury returned with a verdict of not guilty on all charges. Applause erupted in the courtroom upon the jurors’ announcement of the verdict. The four were charged with obstruction of government administration, disorderly conduct and trespass, and faced a year in jail. Following the rendering of the verdict, a juror approached Brian Hynes and said, “I really support what you are doing. Keep doing it.”
Read more here.
Six anti-drone activists arrested at Beale Air Force Base
Anti-drone activists blocked traffic at the Main Gate into Beale Air Force Base for over 30 minutes on February 28 during early morning commute hour. Four of them were later arrested for trespassing as they entered the base. One was trying to deliver a group letter to the base commander, expressing opposition to the unlawful drone assassination program. On February 27, two days before Ash Wednesday, Sharon Delgado and Shirley Osgood were arrested while sprinkling ashes on the base to symbolize the ashes of the innocent people in faraway lands incinerated by remotely controlled drones. All those arrested on February 27 and 28 were cited and released the same day.
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!