Bangor

Protesters were present in August, when the Trident submarine USS Alabama made a visit to SeaFair, a major Seattle summer festival billed as family entertainment. The Northwest Disarmament Coalition has asked the city to ban nuclear weapons in the city, just across the Puget Sound from Bangor, the west coast Trident home port. A public hearing July 31 brought over 100 demonstrators to pack city council chambers, where testimony included the humorous parodies of the elder activist Raging Grannies, and Navy supporters left in disgust.

Two days later, the Alabama was delayed en route to SeaFair at the Hood Canal Bridge, near Bangor, by three people who locked themselves onto the draw bridge, attempting to prevent it from opening for the sub's passage. Two were on top, where they unfurled a banner proclaiming "No Trident", while the third positioned himself underneath near the opening. The State Patrol eventually ordered state employees to open the bridge, which lifted the two on top of it and pushed on the man underneath as it opened. The three were not injured. After the sub had passed they were arrested on charges of trespass and disorderly conduct, then released.

On August 6, eight people were arrested after blocking the main gate at sub base Bangor. They stretched a huge, colorful banner across all three incoming traffic lanes, reading "Because we celebrate life, we resist Trident! Hiroshima never again! No D-5 upgrade!" The action concluded a 4-day nonviolence gathering at the Ground Zero Center For Nonviolent Action, next door to the sub base. The eight were booked on charges of disorderly conduct and failure to disperse, then released.

On September 21, Kitsap County for the second time this year declined to press charges against Bangor protesters. Referring to three previous protest vindications in court, Chief deputy prosecutor Jeffrey Jahns told the Bremerton Sun that "given prior judicial rulings in similar situations, we don't feel criminal charges are warranted."

For more information, contact the Ground Zero Center for Nonviolent Action, 16159 Clear Creek Road, Poulsbo, WA 98370, (360)377-2586, info@gzcenter.org web: www.gzcenter.org