The Nuclear Resister
E-bulletin, December, 2010
IN THIS E-BULLETIN:
1) VETS FOR PEACE & SUPPORTERS ARRESTED AT WHITE HOUSE, TIMES SQUARE & SAN FRANCISCO DEMAND “END THESE WARS!”
2) FIVE DISARM NOW PLOWSHARES ACTIVISTS FOUND GUILTY
3) TWENTY-EIGHT ARRESTS DURING FT. BENNING PROTEST – Vitale & Omondi began 6 month prison sentences
4) WRITE A NOTE OF SUPPORT TO ANTI-NUCLEAR & ANTI-WAR PRISONERS
5) UPCOMING NONVIOLENT DIRECT ACTIONS – Plan anti-nuclear actions and demonstrations now for Chernobyl anniversary
6) FREE SAMPLE ISSUE OF THE NUCLEAR RESISTER #160, HOT OFF THE PRESS NEXT WEEK!
Vets for Peace & supporters arrested at White House, Times Square & San Francisco demand “End These Wars!”
Veterans for Peace and others took a stand against war on Thursday, December 16, in the largest veterans-led civil resistance action to date against the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.
After a 10 a.m. rally in Lafeyette Park featuring Marine Corps veteran and Pentagon Papers whistleblower Daniel Ellsberg, Veterans For Peace National President Mike Ferner and VFP Vice-President and retired Navy Commander Leah Bolger, Iraq vet and March Forward! co-founder Mike Prysner, and others, activists formed a solemn single-file procession to the White House, silent except for a drum beat. There, they encountered police barricades. Some veterans began climbing over the barricades, until the police opened them up, allowing people to approach the fence in front of the White House with their banners and signs.
Read the full story here.
Five Disarm Now Plowshares activists found guilty
The federal criminal trial of five veteran peace activists that began December 7 ended December 13 after the jury found them guilty on all counts. The five defendants, called the Disarm Now Plowshares, challenged the legality and morality of the U.S. storage and use of thermonuclear missiles by Trident nuclear submarines at the Kitsap-Bangor Naval Base outside Bremerton, Washington.
In their defense the peace activists argued three points: the nuclear missiles at Bangor are weapons of mass destruction; those weapons are both illegal and immoral; and that all citizens have the right and duty to try to stop international war crimes from being committed by these weapons of mass destruction.
The five were charged with trespass, felony damage to federal property, felony injury to property and felony conspiracy to damage property. Each defendant faces possible sentences of up to ten years in prison.
On trial were: Anne Montgomery, 83, a Sacred Heart sister from California; Bill Bischel, SJ, 81, a Jesuit priest from Tacoma, Washington; Susan Crane, 67, a member of the Jonah House community in Baltimore, Maryland; Lynne Greenwald, 60, a nurse from Bremerton, Washington; and Steve Kelly, SJ, 60, a Jesuit priest from Oakland, California. Bill Bischel and Lynne Greenwald are active members of the Ground Zero Center for Nonviolent Action, a community resisting Trident nuclear weapons since 1977.
Read the full story here.
Twenty-eight arrests during Ft. Benning protest
Report from Clare Hanrahan:
Federal, City and State authorities were busy in Columbus, Ga., on the weekend prior to Thanksgiving. Arrests of people from 17 to 90 years old included stilt walkers and puppetistas, four credentialed press, local barber Curtis Thornton, a dozen participants in a planned road blockade, priests, veterans and students, along with many others attempting simply to make it back to their cars outside the “permitted protest area” following the 2010 vigil at the gates of Fort Benning, Ga.
At least five undercover police infiltrated the action.
Read Clare’s full report here.
Fr. Louis Vitale & Michael David Omondi began 6 month sentences
Four protesters arrested and charged with federal trespass at Ft. Benning, Georgia on November 20 and 21 were in court on Tuesday, November 23. Arraigned before U.S. Magistrate Judge Stephen Hyles, Nancy Smith and Christopher Spicer pled not guilty. Their trial is set for January 5. Fr. Louis Vitale, OFM and Michael David Omondi pled no contest and were sentenced to the maximum 6 months in jail (no fine). Both men were moved from a Georgia county jail on December 14 and 15. Omondi is in Atlanta, likely waiting transport. Vitale was moved to Victorville, California on December 16.
Until we know that both men are at their final destination, cards and letters to David may be sent to his community for forwarding: The Los Angeles Catholic Worker, 632 N. Brittania St., Los Angeles, CA 90033. Louie’s mail may be send to the Nuclear Resister for forwarding at P.O. Box 43383, Tucson, AZ 85733.
Read more here.
Write a note of support to anti-nuclear and anti-war prisoners
They’re in there for us; we’re out here for them!
A regularly updated list of imprisoned military refusers, anti-nuclear and anti-war activists is available on the Nuclear Resister blog.
Upcoming nonviolent direct actions click here.
Take part in a nonviolent civil disobedience/civil resistance action, play a role in supporting those who do, carry signs and banners… be part of the movement for a peaceful and nuclear-free future!
Plan now for Chernobyl anniversary anti-nuclear actions & demonstrations!
please share on websites, with listserves, in newsletters
INTERNATIONAL DAY OF ACTION FOR A NUCLEAR-FREE FUTURE
April 26, 2011, 25th Chernobyl anniversary
It’s time for groups and activists all over the world to plan protests and actions to mark the 25th anniversary of the Chernobyl catastrophe.
Each year, the French anti-nuclear network Sortir du nucleaire has issued a call to action on Chernobyl Day. In support of this call, U.S. organizations Nukewatch and the Nuclear Resister invite you to organize public protest and/or nonviolent direct action/civil resistance in your area, or participate in other events or actions being planned on or around April 26. It will be a day to declare, together with millions of others around the world, NO to nuclear power, nuclear weapons, nuclear testing, uranium mining and radioactive waste and YES to a nuclear-free future!
Read more here.
Free sample issue of the Nuclear Resister #160, hot off the press next week!
Read our comprehensive, print-only newsletter about these and many more nonviolent direct actions for a peaceful and nuclear-free future around the world! In addition, each issue includes a list of future actions, writings from prisoners, address list of imprisoned activists and more…. If you send your postal address to nukeresister@igc.org, we’ll mail you a free copy of this coming issue, due out right before Christmas.
Subscriptions and donations also welcome!
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