Al Zook, 90, crossed the line at the Kansas City nuclear weapons parts plant. Photo by Tom Fox.
Peace whirlwind
by Henry M. Stoever
Arriving at the Kansas City National Security Campus (KCNSC) at 5:30 a.m. on April 27 went as planned for the Midwest Catholic Workers Retreat and Resistance. But nothing between our arrival and the receipt of tickets by nine line-crossers was ordinary. We showed signs and banners opposing nuclear weapons—parts for such weapons are made at the KCNSC, under the Department of Energy and the National Nuclear Security Administration.
Shortly after our arrival, the wind and rain picked up. Then the tornado warning sirens began. Patrick Kelly, a security guard at Honeywell, which operates this NNSA plant, advised me to take cover. I asked our fellow resisters and supporters to go back to their cars and sit tight.
Since I was one of the organizers of this Retreat and Resistance, I felt duty-bound to remain at the main entrance to this plant, knowing others might come to the scene. While at my post, I felt stronger winds and rains blowing side-ways, and then small pellets of hail.
I began to question the wisdom of this event. I phoned my wife, who was in our car, that I wanted to cancel this long-planned event. Jane said she would consult with other planners and get back with me. I told one of our committed line-crossers that I wanted to cancel this event. So he drove home, to Independence. However, our participants who came from Iowa, Wisconsin, Minnesota, and eastern Missouri said they had come so far, they wanted to go ahead with the action. The tornado warning signal was stopped, and the rain lessened.
Taking the lead of some of the Midwest Catholic Workers from afar, our group of 30 persons gathered at the entry site. I said that as a 12-year softball coach and manager, if there was lightning in the area, I always asked the players and supporters to leave the field and go to their vehicles for protection from wind, rain and lightning. In reply to me, someone said I think we need to play hardball for peace. And we are not directly facing bombs and missiles made by the U.S. These war products raise moral and ethical issues.
I realize that I felt responsible for all persons at the site. And I—and all the participants in our event—feel a responsibility for all persons on the planet. How often have we heard “Love thy Neighbor” and “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you”? Yet all of these nuclear weapons are a clear and present threat to the entire planet. Where is the love, the duty to God and to Neighbor?
Amid the rain, nine (9) persons were arrested and cited for trespass, a City Ordinance Violation, 50-102. Some of the tickets show Municipal Court dates of June 4, at 2:30 p.m. in Court A, and June 5, at 9 a.m. in Court H.
On April 21, 2026, The Kansas City Star published a commentary by me, “Protest of Nuclear Weapons in KC Concerns Our Faith, Morality.” We know numerous readers of The KC Star have seen that and previous articles about protest of these weapons of mass destruction. Let us know you care by contacting PeaceWorks Kansas City at pwkc.org.
–Henry M. Stoever is a retired lawyer and board member of PeaceWorks Kansas City. ©2026 Henry Stoever, Creative Commons Attribution Share-Alike 4.0 International License.
Waiting to receive their tickets from the Kansas City Police at the entry road to the National Security Campus are, from left, Christian Brother Louis Rodemann, Brian Terrell, and Henry Stoever. Photo by Kristin Scheer.
WHY our resisters oppose nuclear weapons
by Jane Stoever
Soon the sky lightened, the rain eased up. Finally, the siren stopped. And we shuttled back to the KCNSC entry area. Nine of us squoze against the long bar, stepping across the purple line, and learned we’d be “processed” and wait for our tickets from the police. Relief! Didn’t have to go off to a police station. And folks from afar could head back home sooner.
Afterwards, we spoke about why we wanted, in the first place, to cross the line or stand at the entry, opposing the nuke-making at the KCNSC.
Christian Brother Louis, 86, of Kansas City, Missouri, referred to the money the U.S. spends on making weapons of war and to the more-than-doubling-in-size of the KCNSC, so it has more space to make new nuclear weapons. “I crossed the line,” said Louis, “to protest the trillions of dollars that this expansion is taking away from all the human needs that are being unmet, particularly conscious of the U.S. no longer giving aid to countries experiencing famine.”
Judith Reed, of Kansas City, Missouri, said, “I was hoping to take a small step to influence workers at the plant. I wanted to put on a sign, ‘Save lives. No bombs!’” Rain doused some of our plans to hold signs for an hour as workers drove toward the entries.
Millie Freid, 13, of Lake City, Minnesota, whose father, Paul, crossed the line, said she came to the weekend retreat and resistance “because I like to hang out and see everybody, and I want to protect our future so that my kids can have a safe world to live in.” Go, Millie!
Mike Miles, when asked why he came to this retreat and resistance, turned the question around and asked, “How could I not be here?! We’re talking hydrogen bombs!” After Mike, from the Anathoth Catholic Worker Farm near Luck, Wisconsin, received his ticket for his line-crossing, he said a special farewell to the National Nuclear Security Administration guards and the Kansas City, Missouri police. Mike called to them, “Hopefully next year we won’t have to be back to do this resistance because people will see how sensible it will be to stop building nuclear weapons! And they’ll put $1 trillion into health care instead.”
Barbara Kass, also from the Anathoth Catholic Worker Farm, said, “It’s amazing to think that we’ve been opposing nuclear weapons for close to 50 years and that today we are no safer than we were then. But the fact is that the opposition of everyone against these weapons means that we’re still here. That’s a good thing! If I can add a voice to ensure that my kids and grandkids will be able to stand against this, maybe we’ll eliminate the weapons all together!” Until then, she added, “I will come back every year and say, ‘Let’s shut this place down!’”
Al Zook, 90, a longtime leader of the Koinonia Community in Georgia, and now from the Anathoth Catholic Worker Farm, was chilled from the rain and wind. His friend Mike tried to warm Al with hugs after they both crossed the purple line. Al said that of his many experiences of resistance, this action had, hands down, the worst weather. We’ll take the acclaim, Al!
Besides the 30 gathered for our April 27 action were Kansas Citians who stayed home Monday because of the weather and those at Jerusalem Farm and Cherith Brook Catholic Worker House who prepared our meals 4/24-27. In addition, Nashid from Jerusalem Farm gives us insights as he leads Satyagraha (truth force or soul force) workshops. He calls us to try to awaken the conscience of Kansas City. Amen!
PeaceWorks is especially grateful to Tom Fox for photographing us while joining in the action. A former editor and publisher of the National Catholic Reporter, Tom wrote an article April 28 on the incongruity of the J.E. Dunn Construction Company building a beautiful grotto honoring Our Lady of Lourdes and now constructing the massive new Kansas City National Security Campus buildings. See https://www.ncronline.org/opinion/guest-voices/grotto-our-lady-plant-nuclear-weapon-parts-and-call-discern.
—Jane Stoever serves on the Communications Team of PeaceWorks KC. ©2026 Jane Stoever, Creative Commons Attribution Share-Alike 4.0 International License.
Eight of the arrestees from left, Ann Suellentrop, Jane Stoever, behind her Henry Stoever, Brother Louis Rodemann, Paul Freid, Mike Miles, Barbara Kass, and Brian Terrell. Photo by Tom Fox.
