On the afternoon of August 6, about 25 people gathered at the King of Prussia, Pennsylvania facility of Lockheed Martin to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the bombing of Hiroshima and demonstrate against Lockheed Martin, the world’s largest war profiteer. The protesters stood side-by-side along the sidewalk, which was lined with bright banners. They waved peace flags, carried protest signs, and tolled the historic peace bell of the Brandywine Peace Community.
Musician Tom Mullian accompanied himself on the guitar and sang two of his songs about resistance and determination. Robert Smith, co-founder and coordinator of the Brandywine Peace Community, spoke briefly about the history of the bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, the urgency of abolishing nuclear weapons, and the importance of persistence.
Following the program, three of those present crossed onto Lockheed Martin property to carry the message of no more war and no nuclear weapons directly to the company’s employees. Paul Sheldon, Bob Smith and Fr. Pat Sieber, OSF were moved off the property by police and cited for trespassing.
Paul Sheldon wrote, “I was carrying copies of Senate Resolution 323 (July 16, 2025) ‘a global effort to halt and reverse the nuclear arms race.’ and House Resolution 1888 (March 5, 2025) ‘to direct the United States to sign the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons…’ to give to the workers at this facility but was stopped before I could deliver them. I gave my copies to their head of security instead.”
Lockheed Martin is the world’s largest war profiteer and nuclear weapons producer. Chief among U.S. war contractors, Lockheed Martin now holds a major role in building Trump’s “Golden Dome,” a multi-billion-dollar Star Wars continental defense system, at the King of Prussia offices and plant, as well as at other Lockheed Martin sites across the country.