Author Archive for Jack & Felice

Sung-Hee (third from right) shortly before going to prison, with other members of the Gangjeong International Team

by Sung-Hee Choi

(Sorry for my hurried translation)

I, Sung-Hee Choi, enter 12 days’ prison as of today’s date, October 13, refusing to judicial oppression and enforcement of fines on me. (600,000 KRW, about $600 USD), even though I think that I am no-guilty. It is not because I agree with imprisonment but I intend to expose the coercion of the judicial oppression on the protesters against the Jeju naval base project through my unjust imprisonment.

Kathy Kelly and Georgia Walker speaking with supporters

by Kathy Kelly

On October 7, 2014, Kathy Kelly and Georgia Walker appeared before Judge Matt Whitworth in Jefferson City, MO, federal court on a charge of criminal trespass to a military facility. The charge was based on their participation , at Whiteman Air Force Base, in a June 1st 2014 rally protesting drone warfare. Kelly and Walker attempted to deliver a loaf of bread and a letter to the Base Commander, encouraging him to stop cooperating with any further usage of unmanned aerial vehicles, (drones), for surveillance and attacks.

Jack Gilroy’s wife and daughters outside courthouse after he was sentenced to 3 months in jail

from Upstate Drone Action

Jack Gilroy, 79, of Endwell, New York was sentenced on October 1 to three months incarceration, three years probation, and $1,000 fine by DeWitt Town Court Judge Robert Jokl. He was taken into custody immediately.

“It’s time for our justice system to identify the real criminals… not those who carry the message to stop the killing to the gates of Hancock Air Base,” said Gilroy in his sentencing statement. Gilroy was convicted by a six-person jury on July 15th of trespass and obstructing government administration after two day’s of trial.

photo by Sharon Delgado

Eleven people, including clergy and veterans, were arrested during two days of peace demonstrations at Beale Air Force Base in California, site of the surveillance drone Global Hawk, which performs reconnaissance for armed drones. The demonstrations at Beale were coordinated with Campaign Nonviolence, a national campaign calling for an end to war, poverty, and climate change. Over 250 nonviolent actions have been carried out in coordination with Campaign Nonviolence in the past week alone.

Two people were arrested at Beale on Monday, September 29, at 3:45 p.m. The Reverend John Auer, a retired United Methodist pastor from Fresno, was assisted in his wheelchair by Guarionex Delgado, a veteran from Nevada City. Mr. Delgado pushed Rev. Auer’s wheelchair the length of the mile-long road to the Wheatland Gate. Rev. Auer stated that he was attempting to deliver a letter to Colonel Phillip A. Stewart, the Base Commander, informing him of a recent anti-drone resolution passed by United Methodists in the California-Nevada region.

Attempting to deliver a letter to President Obama

by Ken Butigan, Pace e Bene, Campaign Nonviolence

Fr. John Dear joined scores of activists, including Code Pink’s Medea Benjamin, at the White House on the morning of September 23 to announce the launch of Campaign Nonviolence’s long-term movement for a culture of peace free from war, poverty, the climate crisis and the epidemic of violence. The assembly linked opposition to the new war launched by the U.S. this morning — bombing Syria and Iraq — to the violence of poverty and climate change.