The Nuclear Resister networks the anti-nuclear and anti-war resistance movement while acting as a clearinghouse for information about contemporary nonviolent resistance to war and the nuclear threat. Our emphasis is on support for the women and men jailed for these actions. This blog is the online companion to the quarterly Nuclear Resister newsletter, a more comprehensive chronicle. » Read more…
photo by Mike Schillingby
by Jane Stoever
Tamara Severns was arrested unexpectedly during an April 6 protest of drone warfare at Whiteman Air Force Base, near Knob Noster, Missouri. A member of the PeaceWorks, Kansas City Board of Directors and a Co-member of the Loretto Community, Tamara was walking toward the Visitors’ Center to use the bathroom. She and other resisters had used those facilities with no problem during about five earlier protests. On April 6, Tamara and several others had arrived at the base entry after authorities had warned the resisters not to step across the white line on the entry road. Unaware that “the rules” had changed, Tamara crossed the line to go toward the Visitors’ Center, was taken into custody with no warning, and was handcuffed, searched, and detained on the base about an hour.
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Photo by Romy 롱롱
by Paco Booyah
Today, April 7, 4 people total were arrested in Gangjeong. The police where very aggressive today and blocked us excessively. They even blocked the daily human chain and dancing time even when there were no cars. This made everyone very angry and frustrated and everyone began demanding an apology from the police. Of course the police didn’t apologize because the police never do that. In response, Father Kim Sung-Hwan began blocking a cement truck. The police came and threatened to arrest him but didn’t for a long time. Father Mun and two Sisters and once activist also came and sat with him. Finally the police arrested Father Kim but not the others. The others continued to block the trucks. The police threatened to arrest them many times but didn’t, but then finally they arrested Father Mun, the activist Lee Jong-Hwa, and Sister Rosalina.
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Gilchrist on far left, Adams on crutches second to right. (Photo by Guarionex Delgado)
Elliott Adams, past National President of Veterans For Peace and international peace activist, was arrested during a nonviolent anti-drone action at Beale Air Force Base on Tuesday, April 1. Adams lives in New York and is currently on a nationwide tour, speaking out about the importance of banning drone attacks, stopping war, and building a culture of peace. He has also been conducting Unarmed Peacekeeping Skills Training and Strategy Sessions around the country with the Meta Peace Team, whose goal is “pursuing peace through active nonviolence.”
Also arrested was Adam’s friend and fellow Veteran for Peace member Richard Gilchrist. Gilchrist served in the army in Vietnam and has also traveled around the country speaking and taking action for peace.
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photo by Felice Cohen-Joppa
[Sr. Megan Rice has been transferred from the Irwin County Detention Center. You can write to her at: Megan Rice 88101-020, Metropolitan Detention Center, P.O. Box 329002, Brooklyn, NY 11232.]
March 2, 2014
Ocilla, GA
Dear sisters and brothers, united as we are in efforts to transform weapons of war (alá Y-12, etc.) into projects fostering LIFE in all its fullness, restorative of justice, and healing for our planet and for the children…
Surely, our days since January 14, when we departed from Ocilla at 3:00 a.m. to arrive in the Knoxville office of the U.S. Marshall at 10:30 a.m., have been packed with learning experiences. These merit reflection. They even deserve to be communicated as events calling for our shared response.
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Greetings my friends, relatives, supporters, and all those who support the cause of freedom, not only for Native Americans, but for all people.
I know it’s sometimes not easy being involved and staying involved, so for all of you that have done just that, I want to thank you from the bottom of my heart to the top of my soul. We need more people all over the world who not only care about the freedom of others, but who care about our future generations and what kind of Earth we leave behind.
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photo by Marcia Gagliardi
from the Shut It Down Affinity Group
VERNON, Vermont—With signs encouraging green jobs and green energy, ten women from the Shut It Down Affinity Group held green balloons and waved as children and their parents exited Vernon Elementary School for the day on Wednesday, March 19.
“We wanted to do something fun and positive,” said Nancy First, 84, of Northampton, one of the Shut It Downers. Many parents and children waved enthusiastically. Shut It Downers also held a sign saying “Confronting the Nuclear Lies” with a finger pointing in the direction of the Vermont Yankee power plant less than a mile away.
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March 21, from Susi Snyder, International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons (ICAN)
Some news from the Netherlands, which is gearing up (and shutting down!) to host 53 heads of State and Government next week for the Nuclear Security Summit:
To draw attention to a significant lack of nuclear security in our little country, this week four Dutch activists entered the secured zone of Volkel Airbase and managed to take a picture of one of the SW3 bunkers in which American B61 nuclear bombs are kept. The activists were arrested and remain detained.
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from Faslane Peace Camp
Two campaigners from Faslane Peace Camp were arrested on Wednesday morning, March 19 aboard the Royal Navy submarine HMS Ambush at its berth in Faslane.
Security at the site – home to Britain’s Trident nuclear weapons and headquarters of the Royal Navy – was again called into question by the protestors’ actions.
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Photo by Greenpeace France
from Greenpeace
On Tuesday, March 18 at 5:50 a.m., 60 Greenpeace activists from France, Germany, Belgium, Italy and Poland staged an occupation of the Fessenheim nuclear power plant, France’s oldest nuclear power station. They criticized the risk that French nuclear power poses to the whole of Europe, and called on the French government, which has programmed the closure of the Alsatian power station, to bring about a real change in energy policy in France. Some activists first displayed a banner at the side of Reactor 1, while others climbed up the side of the reactor pool of Reactor 1 and onto the reactor dome. Once there, the activists unfurled a banner which was 200 metres square and read, “Stop risking Europe”. They stayed in place holding this banner for four hours. Twenty of the activists were arrested.
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photo by Ellen Grady
Seven people walked up to the gate of the 132nd Air National Guard Base in Des Moines, Iowa on Monday, March 17, carrying photos of some Afghan Peace Volunteers and victims of drone strikes. The group attempted to deliver a war crimes indictment.
Julie Brown, Ruthie Cole, Chet Guinn, Elliot Adams, Michelle Naar-Obed, Steve Clemens and Eddie Bloomer were arrested and charged with criminal trespass. The nonviolent action took place on the last day of the Midwest Catholic Worker Faith and Resistance retreat.
Reaping the Whirlwind by Steve Clemens
The tears were streaming down my cheeks as I walked towards the shuttered iron gates in front of the Iowa National Guard base in Des Moines. The tears were a combination of reaction to the cold wind in our faces as seven of us walked slowly and deliberately toward the base entrance as well as my emotions remembering the victims at the receiving end of military drones.
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