Author Archive for Jack & Felice

On the afternoon of December 9, 2013, two Yale Divinity School students and a Catholic Worker were arrested as they attempted to deliver an Order of Protection on behalf of Afghan children and their families at the Hancock Air Base main entrance on East Molloy Rd. near Syracuse, New York.

In addition to the Order of Protection, the three carried with them their signs, a supporting letter from an Afghan family, and flowers.  As they approached, the military guards closed the gates and refused to accept anything from the three, not even the flowers.

One of four drone protesters being arrested. Photo by Ted Majdosz

from dc.indymedia.org

by Luke

On the 18th of November, 26 activists against the US drone killing program packed into pro-drone Senator Schumer’s office demanding he issue a statement denouncing the use of armed drones for assasinations.

His national security staffer was present and refused to even call him to seek such a statement. As a result the protest escalated into arrests.

Sen Schumer’s Foreign Affairs/National Security staffer complained that the protesters were a “fire hazard,” drawing a rebuke that the drones are a worse hazard. He offered to discuss matters in the hallway, protesters knew bettter and stayed in his office. They opened a passageway to allow entry and exit to prevent anyone from using obstructed access as an excuse.

(Left to right), Front row: Jerry, Denny; Back row: Bix, Susan, Betsy, Mary Jane & Ed

Federal Trial for the 2013 PLC Resisters: The Wrap Up

by Leonard Eiger

Greetings Pacific Life Community members and friends,

Seven members of the Pacific Life Community stood trial in US District Court on Monday, October 21. They were charged with trespassing, stemming from their arrests during the March 4, 2013 nonviolent direct action at Naval Base Kitsap-Bangor.

William “Bix” Bicshel, SJ; Susan Crane; Ed Ehmke, Betsy Lamb; Denny Moore; Mary Jane Parrine and Jerry Zawada, OFM appeared before Chief Magistrate Judge Mary Alice Theiler in United States District Court, Western District of Washington in Tacoma.

Greg, Megan and Michael outside the federal courthouse before the start of their trial in Knoxville, May 2013. Photo by Felice Cohen-Joppa

Dear friends and supporters of the Transform Now Plowshares,

We continue to ask for your support and help.  Sentencing for Sr. Megan Rice, Greg Boertje-Obed and Michael Walli has been postponed until January 28, 2014.  On October 1, we received word that Judge Amul Thapar denied the motion to dismiss the sabotage conviction as well as denied the motion for a new trial. For complete background information please visit www.transformnowplowshares@wordpress.com

actionawe.org photo by Brian

by Andreas Speck

Early in the morning of September 2, activists from all over Europe blockaded the two gates of AWE Burghfield, where Britain’s nuclear warheads are assembled and maintained. For almost an hour, all vehicle access to AWE Burghfield was blocked, until police cleared a lock-on blockade of six Finnish activists on The Mearings to the south of the main gate. Later, a blockade of Scottish activists and another blockade of Belgian activists were cleared to the east of AWE Burghfield, near construction gate. Twenty-two activists were arrested by police.