December 2017/January 2018
IN THIS E-BULLETIN
FIVE ARRESTS AT THE WHITE HOUSE ON GUANTANAMO ANNIVERSARY
PENTAGON WITNESS COMMEMORATES MASSACRE OF HOLY INNOCENTS
CATHOLIC WORKERS ARRESTED AT DES MOINES DRONE COMMAND CENTER
FIFTEEN ACTIVISTS ARRESTED PROTESTING WAR ON YEMEN
ARRESTS AT REP. HOYER’S OFFICE PENDING YEMEN WAR LEGISLATION
PLEASE SUPPORT IMPRISONED ANTI-NUCLEAR AND ANTI-WAR ACTIVISTS – THE NUCLEAR RESISTER NEEDS YOU!
Five arrests at the White House on Guantanamo anniversary
Human rights activists, attorneys, ex-military investigators, faith leaders, and torture survivors rallied on January 11 at the White House to mark the 16th year of the operation of the U.S. prison at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, where “war on terror” detainees were first brought in 2002. Five people — Beth Adams, Ken Jones, Manijeh Saba, Helen Schietinger, and Brian Terrell — were arrested for breaching a police line outside the White House, representing the five men still held at Guantanamo despite being cleared for release by the U.S. government years ago. The five are members of Witness Against Torture, an activist movement resisting Guantanamo and torture.
Read more here.
Pentagon witness commemorates Massacre of Holy Innocents
On December 28, braving bitter cold temperatures in the single digits, over 40 members of the Atlantic and Southern Life communities gathered for a nonviolent witness at the Pentagon to commemorate the Massacre of the Holy Innocents, past and present. Carrying copies of the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons to deliver to Pentagon officials, seven members of the group made their way to the police check point closest to the five-sided building. They were told by several heavily armed Pentagon police to leave the high security area. After three warnings, the activists were placed under arrest and escorted to police vehicles whiles their supporters sang “Down by the Riverside”. They were later released from the Pentagon police center with charges of “disobeying a lawful order”.
Read more here.
Catholic Workers arrested at Des Moines drone command center
Four Catholic Workers were arrested on December 28 at a protest commemorating the Feast of the Holy Innocents. A group of protesters went to the entrance of the Iowa National Guard’s Drone Command Center, holding banners that read: “Herod Killed the Infants. (Matt. 2:16.) Today the Des Moines Armed Drone Command Kills Them Too! Celebrate Christmas. Shut Down DM’s Drone Command!” After refusing to leave, Brian Hynes, Ed Bloomer, Al Burney and Greg Boertje-Obed were arrested and spent the night in the Polk County Jail. All four were released on December 29 with misdemeanor trespass charges. Burney pled guilty and was fined, while Hynes, Bloomer and Boertje-Obed pled not guilty and hope to receive a jury trial in Des Moines.
Read more here.
Fifteen activists arrested protesting war on Yemen
At the U.S. Mission to the U.N. on December 11, peace activists from the Catholic Worker movement, Granny Peace Brigade, Raging Grannies and others called for an end to the intensive bombing and blockade of Yemen. They held signs reading “Let Yemen Live”, “Stop U.S.-Saudi War Crimes” and “Stop Bombing Yemen”. Fifteen of them, carrying photos of Yemeni child victims, blockaded the entrance. They were handcuffed and taken into custody by New York City police, and later processed and released with charges of “obstructing vehicular or pedestrian traffic”.
Read more here.
Arrests at Rep. Hoyer’s office pending Yemen war legislation
Seven activists were arrested on January 11 for refusing to leave Rep. Steny Hoyer’s Washington, D.C. office unless the Congressman (and House Minority Whip) committed to bring a vote on legislation to end the U.S.-Saudi war against Yemen. Kathy Kelly, Rev. Janice Sevre-Duszynska, Phil Runkel, Malachy Kilbride, Joy First, Alice Sutter and Richard Ochs were charged with “unlawful entry” and given a January 31 arraignment date in D.C. Superior Court. Under intense bombardment and naval blockade, Yemen is poised to become the new century’s worst case of epidemic and famine, in the worst global famine year in the history of the U.N.
Read more here.
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-nuclear 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!