Monthly Archive for October, 2023

Kansas City judge finds nuclear abolition activist “not guilty”

Posted on October 30, 2023

Photo by Kriss Avery

from PeaceWorks Kansas City

by Jane Stoever

Shock. The courtroom, with about 25 supporters of the defendant, was steeled to hear Judge Anne LaBella say, “Guilty.” The case had been heard. All indicators were that Ann Suellentrop, who pleaded not guilty to committing the crime of trespass on May 29, Memorial Day, at the massive Kansas City, Missouri nuclear weapon production plant, would be declared guilty and most likely endure a lengthy appeal process. The prosecutor had repeatedly objected to Suellentrop’s statements and those of her one witness, retired lawyer Henry Stoever, and only once did the judge not sustain the objections.

 » Read more…

Three climate activists arrested at Beale Air Force Base

Posted on October 20, 2023

On October 19, three climate protesters were arrested at Beale Air Force Base in California after crossing the demarcation line to demand climate justice. They held signs reading, “Our War Against Nature Must End” and “War is Incompatible with Life on Earth”. Among the three detained were two youth protesters who attempted to deliver a letter to base commander Geoffrey Church demanding the shut down of the base. These same two youth protesters, prior to crossing the demarcation line, also read a statement decrying the military’s involvement in the climate crisis. The video of the statement and subsequent arrest is here.

 » Read more…

Protesters blocked the entrances of defense contractor L3 Technologies, seven arrests

Posted on October 19, 2023

Photo by Hannah

Protesters take aim at city defense contractor L3 Technologies

by Alexander Macdougall
Staff Writer
Published: 10/12/2023 4:42:37 PM

NORTHAMPTON — Around two dozen protesters blocked the driveway entrances to defense contractor L3Harris Technologies on Thursday, using a boat and two boat trailers, chaining themselves to the makeshift barricades and holding up signs including “Rock the boat. The tide is rising. All hands on deck.”

The use of boats to block the entrance to the 50 Prince St. building at Village Hill Northampton symbolized that the day of the protest, Oct. 12, is the day that Christopher Columbus first landed on the island of Hispaniola in 1492. The protest was organized by Demilitarize Western Mass against L3Harris, a publicly traded technology company and defense contractor headquartered in Florida that counts the U.S. and Saudi Arabian militaries among its client base.

 » Read more…

11 activists arrested during sit-in at Senator Bernie Sanders’ office

Posted on October 19, 2023

CODEPINK photo

from CODEPINK

by Danaka Katovich, CODEPINK National Co-Director

On October 4, CODEPINK walked the halls of Congress with over 60 people who came from all over the world to call for negotiations, not escalation in Ukraine following an anti-war rally on the evening of October 3 with Dr. Cornel West as the keynote speaker. The purpose of the last two days has been to point out the hypocrisy of progressives who fund endless wars, even progressive champion: Bernie Sanders.

Our action in the morning began with a sit-in in Senator Bernie Sanders’ office that resulted in the arrest of 11 of us — including a peace movement elder named Joan, who is 89-years-old.

 » Read more…