At Offutt Air Force Base, near Omaha, Fr. Jim Murphy and Dagmar Hoxsie concluded the annual retreat by reading a statement of conscience and crossing the line. Both were arrested, issued "ban and bar" letters, and released.

On December 28, the Atlantic Life Community processed silently to the White House, led by four mothers in mourning. Some staged a die-in in the restricted zone of the sidewalk in front of the White House, as others poured blood around them. Sixteen people were arrested. Fourteen were cited for demonstrating without a permit and released. Lloyd Fullioni and Lisa Guido, charged with destruction of property, were held through the weekend, and released when charges were dismissed Monday, December 30.

That Monday morning, the community witnessed for peace at the Pentagon. About 60 people vigiled to greet the arriving workers, some holding signs and banners, others leafletting with appeals to uphold the commandment, "Thou Shalt Not Kill," leave the military, abolish all weapons and renounce the U.S. war plans to invade Iraq. Steve Baggarly, Bill Frankel-Streit, and Steve Woolford made their way up to the entrance, the closest weekly vigilers have gotten to the building since new security restrictions were imposed post-9/11. They poured human blood over the columns, walls, and doors at the entrance.

"The Pentagon's business is war and war is a bloody business. The U.S. empire is built on the blood of the poor and the innocent. Our actions merely make visible that reality," said Baggarly and Frankel-Streit.

The three men were arrested on multiple charges, as were eleven vigilers who later refused a police order to leave.

The three were convicted of disorderly conduct and "preservation of property" in federal court in Alexandria on March 7. Although often restricted by Judge Buchanan, the defendants spoke directly to the point of their protest. Steve Baggarly talked about the necessity for action and resistance. At one point Judge Buchanan interrupted him and asked, "Why aren't you protesting Iraq's weapons of mass destruction?" Steve replied, "We gave them those weapons. We need to start with disarming our own first. We need to start now." After an interrupted and censored testimony, he ended by saying that "The violent history of the Pentagon leads here. The court defends the Pentagon."

Buchanan sentenced Steve Baggarly, Bill Frankel-Streit, and Steve Woolford to six months each in prison.

For more information, contact the Norfolk Catholic Worker, (757)423-5420.

Letters of support must be individually addressed and should be sent to William Streit #03809-052, FDC., POB 560, Philadelphia, PA 1910 (in transit to FCI Fort Dix, POB 7000, Fort Dix, NJ 08640), and to Steve Baggarly, and Steve Woolford at: Northern Neck Regional Jail, POB 1090, 3908 Richmond Rd., Warsaw, VA 22572.

From jail, Baggarly told a reporter "We'll keep breaking the law. The law protects all of our war-making. We think it's very much to the point to break the law to start knocking that support out from under the empire little by little."