The Nuclear Resister

Photo by David Lee

from the Register-Star

by John Mason, Columbia-Greene Media 

Dr. Joseph Olejak, a chiropractor with a successful practice in Delmar, is spending his weekends in Columbia County Jail for the next six months.

On Oct. 17, Judge Thomas McAvoy of the Federal District Court of Northern New York found Olejak guilty of the charge of willful failure to file an income tax form, something the defendant had failed to do for nearly 20 years.

He was sentenced to 26 weekends in jail and payment of $240,000 in back taxes. In addition, he’s doing community service at the Northeast Regional Food Bank, and is looking for other placements as well.

Olejak, a Quaker, withholds taxes because he’s a passionate opponent of war.

From Radical Art for These Times

by Flora Rogers

In the last few years, as news of Drones Warfare perpetrated by the United States has reached my ears, my heart has been opened to exactly what it is I can do to take responsibility for mending this pain.

I have been so fortunate to unite with folks who actively work to heal this issue that we as Americans face today. Those people are a core group of members from Veterans for Peace, Grandmothers for Peace, Code Pink, and generally well practiced activist elders. Until recently I was the youngest regular participant at age 40. We vigil monthly at an Air Force Base near my home and we call ourselves Occupy Beale Air Force Base.

Update December 14:

Kimberly Rivera was released from military prison on Thursday, December 12, after serving over seven months of a 10 month sentence, with credit for good behavior and performing extra work.

Compiled from reports at FreeKimberlyRivera.org

Katie Rivera joins demonstration for her mom’s freedom outside military brig in San Diego, December 1,

PFC Kimberly Rivera gave birth to her son Matthew on the evening of November 25. After last-minute pressure from outside supporters and her attorney, husband and father Mario Rivera was allowed to be present for the birth.

Then, on Thanksgiving Day, November 28, Fort Carson Senior Commander Brig. General Michael A. Bills acted with extreme cruelty to deny Rivera’s request for clemency that would allow her to be excused from serving the last few weeks of her sentence so that she could be with her newborn son. She was taken from the hospital back the brig that morning, and their son was given to his father.

Protests of the action took place in Canada, France and the United States on December 1, which is coincidently also International Prisoner for Peace Day. On Thanksgiving Day, Mario Rivera posted this letter about his family’s ordeal:

November, 2013

Dear friends,

All of us whose names appear below have something in common. At some time between 1980 and today, each of our names appeared on the list of imprisoned anti-nuclear and anti-war activists published by the Nuclear Resister.

This letter is our unhesitating recommendation and appeal to you to support the Nuclear Resister, a “chronicle of hope”.

The Nuclear Resister has been and continues to be a crucial source of information for the community of nonviolent resisters, prisoners of conscience and their supporters. It helps to unify peace communities and build solidarity. It reminds us of the global movement we are a part of and provides a space for us to learn from and be inspired by each other.

One of four drone protesters being arrested. Photo by Ted Majdosz

from dc.indymedia.org

by Luke

On the 18th of November, 26 activists against the US drone killing program packed into pro-drone Senator Schumer’s office demanding he issue a statement denouncing the use of armed drones for assasinations.

His national security staffer was present and refused to even call him to seek such a statement. As a result the protest escalated into arrests.

Sen Schumer’s Foreign Affairs/National Security staffer complained that the protesters were a “fire hazard,” drawing a rebuke that the drones are a worse hazard. He offered to discuss matters in the hallway, protesters knew bettter and stayed in his office. They opened a passageway to allow entry and exit to prevent anyone from using obstructed access as an excuse.