UPDATE, more information here: disarmnowplowshares.wordpress.com/
The following is from a press release. The photo is from a different but related event:
5 people arrested on Naval Base Kitsap- Bangor
The “Disarm Now Trident Plowshares Action”
Bill “Bix” Bischel, S.J., 81, of Tacoma, Washington; Susan Crane, 65, of Baltimore MD; Lynne Greenwald, 60, of Bremerton Washington; Steve Kelly, S.J., 60, of Oakland, CA.; Anne Montgomery RSCJ, 83, of New York, New York, were arrested on Naval Base Kitsap- Bangor. They entered the Base in the early morning hours of November 2, 2009, All Souls Day, with the intention calling attention to the illegality and immorality of the existence of the Trident weapons system. They entered thru the perimeter fence, made their way to the Strategic Weapons Facility – Pacific ( SWFPAC) where they were able to cut thru the first chainlink fence surrounding SWF-PAC, walked to and cut the next double layered fence, which was both chain link and barbed wire, onto the grounds of SWFPAC. As they walked onto the grounds, they held a banner saying…… “Disarm Now Plowshares : Trident: Illegal + Immoral”, left a trail of blood and hammered on the roadway (Trigger Ave and Sturgeon) that are essential to the working of the Trident weapons system, hammered on the fences around SWFPAC and scattered sunflower seeds throughout the base. They were then thrown to the ground face down, handcuffed and hooded and held there for 4 hours on the wet cold ground. They were taken, hooded and carried out thru the very holes in the fence that they had made, for questioning by Base security, FBI and NCIS. They refused to give any information except their names, and were cited as of now, for trespass and destruction of government property, given a ban and bar letter and released.
This is a powerful article, written by Jeff Sharlet. It's about the use of religious ideology in war. Here's an excerpt from the article describing events that occurred in Iraq.
Jesus Killed Mohammed
by Jeff Sharlet...
Humphrey had been in Samarra for a month, and until that day his stay had been a quiet respite in one of the world’s oldest cities. Not long before, though, there had been a hint of trouble: a briefing in which his squad was warned that any soldier caught desecrating Islamic sites—Samarra is considered a holy city—would fall under “extreme penalty,” a category that can include a general court-martial and prison time. “I heard some guys were vandalizing mosques,” Humphrey says. “Spray-painting ’em with crosses.”
The rest of that Easter was spent under siege. Insurgents held off Bravo Company, which was called in to rescue the men in the compound. Ammunition ran low. A helicopter tried to drop more but missed. As dusk fell, the men prepared four Bradley Fighting Vehicles for a “run and gun” to draw fire away from the compound. Humphrey headed down from the roof to get a briefing. He found his lieutenant, John D. DeGiulio, with a couple of sergeants. They were snickering like schoolboys. They had commissioned the Special Forces interpreter, an Iraqi from Texas, to paint a legend across their Bradley’s armor, in giant red Arabic script.
“What’s it mean?” asked Humphrey.
“Jesus killed Mohammed,” one of the men told him. The soldiers guffawed. JESUS KILLED MOHAMMED was about to cruise into the Iraqi night.
Today marks the sixth anniversary of the invasion of Iraq and bombing campaign of Baghdad. Earlier tonight, I went to the Community Observance at St. John's Episcopal, and I am glad that I did. The assembled group of people had very meaningful sentiments to share. It wasn't easy. Empathizing with the loss and suffering experienced by the people of Iraq is painful and grievous.
Deep words of wisdom were exchanged: about the problems associated when governments or groups of people seek to extend their influence and control over other groups of people; about the aspiration for peace between all people of the world, regardless of national borders. So much was said it would be very difficult for me to capture it all in a short time and space.
Based on the results of a credible scientific census study, as many as 1,300,000 Iraqis may have been killed as a result of war-related violence. That's not even to consider the non-fatal casualties, nor those who have been forced to flee. Despite this huge toll of war-related death and destruction, Americans have been kept quite insulated from a ready knowledge of the truly devastating and horrible reality of the situation.
A great wound exists, and in order to heal, there is need for awareness, and acceptance of the problem.
Tomorrow, Friday, March 20th, 2009, the Iraq Memorial to Life will be built. Thousands of symbolic grave markers are ready to be placed in the ground. This is an opportunity to reflect, in a meaningful and deep way, on the true cost of the invasion and occupation of Iraq.
The memorial will be built in Heritage Park, across from Traditions Cafe, near the corner of 5th Avenue and Water Street (in downtown Olympia, Washington.
Tomorrow, Friday, set up will begin after a short meditation at 8 AM. The opening Ceremony and Dedication are scheduled for 1 PM and 2 PM respectively. An evening vigil will take place at 8 PM.