Two women arrested at Beale Air Force Base protest

Posted on November 1, 2024
by Chris Nelson
Catherine Hourcade (retired RN from Stockton) and Chris Nelson (Nurse Practitioner from Chico) were arrested on October 9th at Beale Air Force Base in Marysville, California during a one-year anniversary commemoration of the genocide in Gaza. We are involved with Occupy Beale, a coalition of northern California peace activists who have demonstrated against militarism at Beale Air Force Base every month for 14 years. 
Because October is “Keep Space for Peace” month, we also included this issue in the letter we addressed to the new base commander. Catherine and I read it to the military staff at the Main Gate of Beale, then gave it to an MP to be delivered to Colonel Keagan L. McLeese. 

 » Read more…

Germany intends to expel American nuclear resister

Posted on September 10, 2024

Dennis DuVall and wife Michelle Shiloh

October 31 Update
The Ausländeramt in Kamenz has decided that Dennis can stay in Germany until the Landesdirektion Sachsen in Dresden has made a decision on the Widerspruch presented by his attorney. In her appeal she is asking for a family residency permit for Dennis. 

On October 31, Germany intends to expel U.S. citizen Dennis DuVall, 82, a resident of Radeberg, Germany, a member of Veterans For Peace, and a nuclear resister against U.S./NATO thermonuclear bombs deployed at Büchel NATO base in Germany.

The German expulsion order describes DuVall’s nuclear resistance as a serious threat to security and public order. DuVall believes he has a legal obligation to resist planning and preparation for nuclear war taking place at Büchel NATO base, a violation of international laws and a crime according to the Nuremberg Charter and Principles. 
“B61-12 nuclear bombs and F35 warplanes at Büchel will push NATO closer to war,” warns DuVall, “and redeploying medium-range missiles in Germany also raises the alarm of a wider European war.”
DuVall invites peace and anti-war/anti-weapons groups and individuals to support his fight to remain in Germany. You can sign a petition by clicking here.

 » Read more…

Protesters in court for Mother’s Day action at nuclear sub base

Posted on August 19, 2024

Photo by Mary Gleysteen

Sue Ablao, Mack Johnson, Gilberto Perez, Michael Firefly Siptroth and Caroline Wildflower appeared before Judge Pro Tem Kyle A. Joyce in Kitsap Country Traffic Court August 13, 2024, seeking mitigation of “pedestrian in the roadway” citations and fines for blocking traffic to the Trident Submarine Base on Mother’s Day, May 12. (Carolee Flaten was out of town and sought mitigation by mail.)

 » Read more…

Five nuclear resisters arrested at Vandenberg Space Force Base

Posted on August 18, 2024

Photo by Felice Cohen-Joppa

Jeff Dietrich and Catherine Morris of the Los Angeles Catholic Worker renewed their wedding vows on Saturday, August 10 during a protest at California’s Vandenberg Space Force Base (formerly Air Force Base). Seventy-five people joined them to celebrate their 50th anniversary – five decades together of community, hospitality, love and resistance! – and to commemorate the 79th anniversary of the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. The U.S. test-launches nuclear missiles from the Vandenberg base. 

After renewing their vows, Catherine and Jeff crossed onto base property (90-year-old Catherine with the aid of a walker), along with Frank Cordaro, Nuri Ronaghe and Dimitri Kadiev. All were cited and released.

 » Read more…

Eight blockaders arrested at Naval Base Kitsap-Bangor

Posted on August 17, 2024

Eight nuclear weapons abolition activists were removed from the roadway on the morning of August 5 by the Washington State Patrol after blocking the entrance to Naval Base Kitsap-Bangor, site of the world’s largest concentration of deployed nuclear weapons. The action was part of the annual demonstration organized by the Ground Zero Center for Nonviolent Action to commemorate the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, Japan in August 1945.

 » Read more…

A prison comic: “Why is my Grandma in Prison?”

Posted on August 17, 2024

Susan Crane and Susan van der Hijden spent a lot of time in their shared cell at Rohrbach prison. Add paper and colored pencils to the mix, along with the desire to create something special for Susan Crane’s grandchildren… and the attached comic – “Why is my Grandma in Prison?” – is the result! A collaboration by the two Susans, with artwork by Susan van der Hijden – wonderful!

 » Read more…

Arrests at Livermore Lab commemorate Hiroshima bombing

Posted on August 17, 2024

Tri-Valley CAREs photo of Karen Topakian

from Tri-Valley CAREs

Activists Solemnly Gather for “Back to the Brink” Event Commemorating the Bombing of Hiroshima

by Scott Yundt 

Around 100 people gathered at the Westgate entrance to Livermore Lab on the morning of Tuesday, August 6, 2024 to commemorate the 79th anniversary of the bombing of Hiroshima. The theme of the event was Back from the Brink: the imperative of nuclear abolition. A wonderful slate of speakers provided compelling insights and actions for the engaged audience. These speakers included Maylene Hughes – Back from the Brink Campaign and Physicians for Social Responsibility, Scott Yundt – Tri-Valley CAREs, Norman Solomon – journalist and author, Patricia Ellsberg – social activist and wife of Daniel Ellsberg, Hideaki Ito – director of the documentary film Silent Fallout, and Reverend Monica Cross – CA Poor Peoples Campaign. Participants were then led in a Japanese Tradition of Bon, performing symbolic dance steps in the road to remember the nearly quarter million dead of 79 years ago. Lastly 23 people took part in nonviolent civil disobedience by blocking the gate to the Lab after the Police issued the call to disperse. These protestors were cited and released.

 » Read more…

Drone war whistleblower Daniel Hale FREE!!

Posted on August 2, 2024

Photo posted on Twitter by the Daniel Hale Support Network

Daniel Hale was released from federal prison to home confinement in February, more than a decade after his arrest for disclosing documents and speaking publicly about the limits and failures of U.S. drone warfare. An ankle monitor was attached to supervise his location at all times until the completion of his sentence on July 5. 

Following a protracted prosecution for violating the Espionage Act, Hale eventually pled guilty in 2021 to a 45-month sentence. He served most of his time behind bars at the notorious Communications Management Unit (CMU) of the federal prison at Marion, Illinois, where his correspondence, phone calls and visits were limited and closely monitored. Correspondence that had been withheld during his imprisonment at Marion was given to him upon release.

 » Read more…

Two women arrested at RAF Lakenheath, protesting the return of U.S. nuclear weapons to the U.K.

Posted on August 1, 2024

Lakenheath Alliance for Peace photo

Angie Zelter and Ginnie Herbert were arrested at a protest at a U.S. air force base in Suffolk, England on July 20, and were held for nearly 24 hours before being released from custody.

The arrests came on the sixth day of a peace camp established outside RAF Lakenheath to protest the return of U.S. nuclear weapons to the U.K. Around 60 people attended a rally which took place on a grass verge outside the base, and listened to speakers including CND general secretary Kate Hudson. Several women donned T-shirts spelling out “NO NATO” and briefly formed a line across the main entrance.
Five women then walked through the main gate of the base, intending to deliver a letter to the base commanders, asking them to stop U.S. nuclear weapons returning to Lakenheath. Suffolk police officers intercepted the women, informed them that the base commanders would not be coming to meet them, and asked them to leave or be arrested under the Serious Organized Crime Prevention Act. Three of the woman left, while Zelter and Herbert sat down and said they would stay until a base commander was available to meet them. Both were arrested and taken to Bury St Edmunds Police Station, where they were questioned and released on bail, with formal charges to be given at a later date. 

 » Read more…

American nuclear resister begins second prison sentence in Germany

Posted on July 23, 2024

Photo by Michelle Shiloh

JULY 29 UPDATE: Someone anonymously paid Dennis DuVall’s fine and he was released from prison.

On July 22, accompanied by his wife and friends, 82-year-old Dennis DuVall reported to Bautzen prison in Germany. The American citizen, who has lived in Germany for six years, will be serving a 90 day sentence for nonpayment of fines for protest actions at Büchel air base, where U.S. nuclear weapons are stored. The Veterans for Peace member spent 60 days in the same prison in 2023, also for actions at Büchel.

 » Read more…