"F-16s KILL"  
An Air National Guard weekend exhibit of F-16 fighters in the parking lot of a Duluth shopping mall was the scene of daily protests in July. On Friday, July 13, four women crossed the rope barrier and fell to the ground beneath the fighter jet, their clothing splattered with red paint representing blood.

More than a dozen supporters nearby held a banner and wore T-shirts simply stating "F-16s Kill." When security officers arrived with police 45 minutes later, the demonstrators departed without arrest, having made their point that "a machine designed for killing and destruction should not be shown in a glorified manner or used as family entertainment."

A smaller witness group returned the next day. John Heid knelt prayerfully next to the plane, holding an enlarged photo of a 13-year old Iraqi shepherd boy, killed by an F-16's bomb in May, 2000. Mall security had a new plan: Heid was arrested and charged with trespass.

On Sunday, mall security forbid even the wearing of the "F-16s Kill" t-shirt, saying it gave patrons a bad shopping experience. Two more men were ticketed for trespass: Joel Kilgour while holding a "Choose Life" sign near the plane, and Jed Eichel, who wore a protest t-shirt. Later, Andrea Crouse, Laurie Hatcher, and Mali Lorenz again crossed under the rope and knelt with the photo and signs beneath the aircraft's missiles. After 20 minutes of quiet witness, they were also arrested and cited for trespass.

The six were convicted after a two-day trial in early October, and fined $50.

Hatcher, Heid, Kilgour, and Lorenz have all been summoned to appear in court on Dec. 26 for failure to pay the fines.

For more information, contact Loaves & Fishes Catholic Worker, 1712 Jefferson St., Duluth, MN 55812, (218)724-2054.