September 2016
IN THIS E-BULLETIN
SIX ACTIVISTS ARRESTED AT NEVADA NUCLEAR TEST SITE
FIVE DRONE PROTESTERS ARRESTED AT BEALE AFB
PENTAGON PROTEST RESULTS IN 21 ARRESTS
TWO ARRESTS DURING PROTEST OF ROTC ON MARQUETTE CAMPUS
CATHOLIC WORKER ACTIVIST ARRESTED AT NAVY AIR SHOW
SIT IN AT GOVERNOR’S OFFICE URGES CLOSURE OF PILGRIM NUKE PLANT
FRENCH ARMS FAIR RESISTANCE, 15 ARRESTS
GANGJEONG VILLAGE MAYOR TAKEN INTO CUSTODY BY POLICE
PLEASE SUPPORT IMPRISONED ANTI-NUCLEAR AND ANTI-WAR ACTIVISTS – THE NUCLEAR RESISTER NEEDS YOU!
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Six activists arrested at Nevada nuclear test site
The Nevada Desert Experience hosted a Justice for Our Desert event during International Peace Day weekend, September 24-26. For several days, participants gathered for music, discussion, meals and community building before going to the Nevada National Security Site (formerly known as the Nevada nuclear Test Site) on Monday, September 26. Six of the seven of those present were moved to cross the boundary line onto the site. Laura-Marie Taylor, Ming Lai, Susan Dillion, Clementine Cat, George Killingsworth and Robert Majors were arrested for trespass and released on site. Then, following lunch at the Sekhmet Temple, the activists held a peaceful vigil at Creech drone base.
Read more here.
Five drone protesters arrested at Beale AFB
Five California women were arrested on September 27 during a drone protest at Beale Air Force Base, after they crossed onto base property. They were taken by military bus to a building on base, given citations, and released. Wearing blue scarves, Rev. Sharon Delgado, Shirley Osgood, Cathy Webster, Chris Nelson and Toby Blome acted in solidarity with the Afghan Peace Volunteers, a group of young people working for peace in Afghanistan.
Read more here.
Pentagon protest results in 21 arrests
On September 26, activists went to the Pentagon to seek a meeting with decision-makers in the Pentagon chain of command, including Secretary Ashton Carter. The group told Pentagon police they wouldn’t leave until they spoke to an official in a position of authority about war crimes committed by the U.S. They also tried to deliver a petition signed by over 23,000 people to President Obama, Secretary Carter and German Chancellor Merkel calling for the closing of a drone relay station at U.S. Air Force Base Ramstein in Germany, which has been linked to the deaths of innocent civilians. Twenty-one people were arrested and charged with “violation of a lawful order”, and later released with a November 3 court date.
Read more here.
Two arrests during protest of ROTC on Marquette campus
On September 22, activists gathered on the Marquette University campus to call for closing down ROTC at the Catholic university. After a rally and march through campus, they gathered in front of the doors of the ROTC building, symbolically chaining them closed. After the end of the gathering, a Marquette police officer ran to the open doors of the building and tightly handcuffed Don Timmerman, who was standing next to the door with a chain in his hands. He was charged with disorderly conduct A woman was also arrested and charged with trespass when she did not leave the area quickly enough after the police ordered the group to disperse.
Read more here.
Catholic Worker activist arrested at Navy air show
While walking through the Air Show at Oceana Naval Air Station in Virginia Beach the weekend of September 10-11, Steve Williams-Baggarly of the Norfolk Catholic Worker was arrested. He and his friend were leaving the show and walking back through the parking lot when they were stopped by security and placed under arrest. They were held for a couple of hours and their vehicle was searched. The other person was then told he was free to go. Williams-Baggarly, who had received “ban and bar” letters as a result of previous arrests at Oceana, has a November 7 court date and faces 6 months for trespassing.
Read more here.
Sit-in at Governor’s office urges closure of Pilgrim nuclear plant
After a rally outside of the State House in Boston, Massachusetts, members of the anti-nuclear group Cape Downwinders delivered a letter to Governor Baker calling for him to demand that the Nuclear Regulatory Commission immediately close Pilgrim nuclear reactor in Plymouth. They refused to leave until the Governor made a commitment to uphold public safety. State police arrived and at around 7:30 p.m., Mary Conathan, Doug Long and Diane Turco were arrested for trespassing. After a year of increased oversight by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Pilgrim remains at the lowest NRC safety rating, one step from federally mandated shutdown.
Read more here.
French arms fair resistance, 15 arrests
Opening day of the Eurosatory Arms Expo, June 13, was enlivened by 50 activists from the French collective Désobéir (Disobey) as they took several simultaneous actions against war. Professionally attired activists entered the suburban Paris exhibition hall, where some crossed the rope lines and climbed on board a Leclerc tank and another vehicle, unfurling banners and pouring red paint on the weapons. A few took photos and video of the protest while others inside displayed banners and spoke out against the business of killing. Outside, more activists rallied and some blocked the doors to the exhibition hall, which had been marked with red paint as well. Police eventually forced all of the demonstrators out of the building, and took 15 to the station for questioning and identity checks before releasing them four hours later.
Read more here.
Gangjeong Village mayor taken into custody by police
Cho Kyung-Cheol, the Mayor of Gangjeong Village on Jeju Island, South Korea, was arrested on the afternoon of September 5 for his refusal to cooperate with an investigation on alleged charges from an earlier incident. Police handcuffed him and took him into custody. After fasting in jail to protest his unjust arrest, he was released a couple of days later. On April 28, when uniformed soldiers in military vehicles pointed their guns all around while passing through the center of the village, Mayor Cho had asked them not to threaten people in that way, and pointed out that there was an elementary school nearby.
Please support imprisoned anti-nuclear and anti-war activists – The Nuclear Resister needs YOU!
The Nuclear Resister is a bare bones operation that depends on grassroots support to chronicle anti-war and anti-war resistance, and support the women and men in prison for their acts of conscience. We need your help to continue this work – please read more here!! Or go directly here to make a secure online donation and find information about how to send a check. Each and every donation, large or small, will be gratefully received – thank you!