Pit Stop Ploughshares Update

by Fintan Lane - Cork Anti-War Campaign Sun Jan 25, 2004 23:54

Best of luck to the Pitstop Ploughshares for tomorrow's hearing!

Solidarity from the Cork Anti-War Campaign.

by William Small Fri Jan 23, 2004 05:05

Petition launched to release from prison three anti-nuke nuns Ardeth Platte, Carol Gilbert and Jackie Hudson.



Dear President Bush:

We the undersigned request the immediate pardon and release of three Grand Rapids Dominican nuns currently serving time in Federal Prisons. Sr.Ardeth Platte,OP, 10857-039, age 67, is serving a 41 month sentence at FCI Danbury CT, Sr.Carol Gilbert, OP, 10856-039, age 56, is serving a 33 month sentence at RI FPC Alderson WV and Sr.Jacqueline Hudson, OP, 08808-039, age 69 is serving a 30 month sentence at FPC Victorville CA. including 3 years of supervised release Their "crime": non-violently and symbolically exposing and inspecting a first strike 330 kiloton (20x Hiroshima) Minuteman III intercontinental ballistic missile. They found this weapon of mass extermination on high-alert, ready to be unleashed within 15 minutes of your order in Greeley, Colorado.

We know that you are aware that because of its vast and uncontrollable heat, blast and radiation, any use of even one Minuteman III would be a grotesque war crime or genocide. As you know too, any such threat or use of a Minuteman III missile is universally illegal and criminal because it is a threat against all humanity. We trust that you also agree that the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty requires all countries to pursue open, non-violent declaration, inspection and disarmament one weapon at a time in order to effectively end highly dangerous nuclear proliferation.

The Nuns pointed out these facts and law asserting that as citizens in a free society we have a basic right to non-violently or symbolically expose threat or commission of war crimes by our own government. Instead of being honored or dismissed, the Nuns were charged with two felonies sabotage and depredation of property over $1000 for lowering 32 feet of fence (worth $200) and placing crosses on the 120 ton missile cover, which did no harm of any kind. They were convicted because of an absurdly unfair criminal trial in which they were prevented from raising any defense evidence about the constitutional limits to your war powers, the laws of war which positively prohibit any threat or use of a weapon of mass extermination or the grim realities of the Minuteman III all directly relevant to elements of the crimes charged. The case is legally ripe for appeal.

You can eliminate the need for further litigation in this matter by ordering the pardon and release of these religious women who have spent their lives in the pursuit of justice and peace and in educating people about the moral and legal obligation for complete non-violent nuclear disarmament. It should be noted that these women are highly respected both in this country and abroad. On October 12, 2003 they received the NUCLEAR-FREE FUTURE AWARD from Munich, Germany. Releasing the Nuns now is the just and humanitarian thing to do.

Thank you. Go to this web site to view other signers names and to sign yourself:

 http://www.petitiononline.com/know0001/petition.html

by Ithaca Catholic Worker Wed Jan 21, 2004 12:31

Trial of St. Patrick 4
Feb. 9th, 2004, (Mon) 9 am
Tompkins County Court
320 N. Tioga St., Ithaca NY

(St. Patrick's 4 Statement Below)
read at US Military Recruiter's Office



Dear Friends,

On St Patrick's Day, March 17, 2003,
after 12 years of US led bombing and sanctions
against Iraq, a full-out invasion of Iraq was imminent.
That day, Teresa B. Grady, Peter De Mott,
Clare Grady, and Daniel Burns went to the
local US Army/Marine Recruiting Center in an act of
nonviolent civil resistance. They read a statement
(enclosed-below) and poured a small amount of their own
blood around the vestibule of the center. They poured
their own blood, a potent and sacred symbol of life
and death, to make visible the bloodshed that is
inherent in the business of war and by extension,
the recruiting station. In addition, the four hoped to
share with potential recruits that the imminent war
with Iraq was illegal under US law and international
law. Finally, the action of the St. Patrick's Four
embodies the belief that war and killing are failures
of the human spirit and leave an irreparable wound
on not only those who are directly involved, but on all
of humanity.

They were arrested at the recruiting center and
spent four days in jail. Since then they have had various
court dates culminating in a July arraignment in
county court on charges of felony criminal mischief.

These charges carry a maximum penalty of 11/4 to 4
years in prison. They will go to trial on February
9th , beginning at 9am at the county court house on
320 N. Tioga street with County Court Judge Jack Sherman
presiding. The four are working with several lawyers
on a pro bono basis.Professor and historian Howard Zinn,
and former U.S. Marine and former UN Arms Inspector of Iraq,
Scott Ritter are among those expected to testify on their behalf.
Housing is available for those coming from out of
town. We are planning on providing lunch during the trial.
Please come and support Danny, Teresa, Clare and Peter
if you are able.

The hope of the St. Patrick's Four and their
community is to continue to bring awareness about
the illegality of the war, the horror of the ongoing
occupation of Iraq, and military recruitment's
victimization of young people, especially people of
color and poor people. They want to do this through
speaking engagements, letters to the editor,
interviews, talking to friends, family and neighbors,
community forums, their trial, and possible jail
witness.
Now, with the war supposedly over, these efforts
may be even more important and in need of your support.
Since the victory was declared, over 350 Coalition
service people have been killed and continue to die
daily. Although not all civilian casualties have
been counted, between 6,000 and 8,000 Iraqi civilian
casualties have been reported and the number is
expected to rise. With Iraq's infrastructure (water
treatment, electricity, health care, and food
distribution) completely destroyed, Iraqi people face
a continuous humanitarian crisis with no end in sight
and face long term health crisis caused by over 1,000
tons of cancer causing Depleted Uranium tipped
munitions. It has become increasingly clear that
the US will maintain an occupation there for at least
several more years. Billions of tax dollars are
being directed away from our own communities and towards
the military to maintain an unending war. We now know
that the Bush administration knowingly used false
information to support their claim that war on Iraq
was necessary. We have to ask ourselves if our
country's continued destabilization of the Middle
East region is creating a long term terrorism threat.
Is this the kind of future we want to hand over to all
the world's children?

The St. Patrick's Four stated on the day of their

arraignment,"As citizens of this democracy, we
welcome this opportunity to come together as a
community to expose the criminality of the US
government. Acting out of love for truth and
humanity is essential as our government bulldozes
ahead unfettered by concern for truth and human life.
We, the people of this democracy, are the ones on
whom the responsibility for changing the course of things
now lies. For the sake of humanity, we must act to
prevent more war making".

We are writing you today to ask for your support of
the St. Patrick's Four as we work together for
justice and peace. We are asking for your prayers,
financial support (checks can be made to the Ithaca Catholic
Worker Community, PO Box 293, Ithaca NY 14851),
letters to the editor, presence at the trial, and
help spreading the word. All four are primary financial
supporters for their families and any financial
support you can offer will be greatly appreciated.
If you would like to host a speaking engagement, offer
some type of help, or need more information, please
call 607-256-8529. In appreciation of peacemakers everywhere,
Please call 607-256-8529 or 607-277-6932 or email
[email protected] for more information, directions
or for housing. or Mary Anne
Thank you for your support!
Ellen Grady, Jessica and Audrey Stewart , Leslie
Schultz, Neil Golder, Mary Loehr, Lisa Guido


St. Patrick's Four Statement read on March 17, 2003
at the U.S. Army / Marine Recruiting Station,
Lansing, NY.(next to Ithaca)

Our statement begins with a quote from St. Patrick,
"Killing cannot be with Christ", and reads: Our
apologies, dear friends, for the fracture of good
order. As our nation prepares to escalate a war on
the people of Iraq by sending hundreds of thousands
of US soldiers to invade, we pour our blood on the
walls of this military recruiting center. We mark this
recruiting office with our own blood to remind
ourselves and others of the cost in human life of
our government's war making.
Killing is wrong. Preparations for killing are wrong.
The work done by the Pentagon with the connivance of
this military recruiting station ends with the
shedding of blood, and God tells us to turn away
from it. Blood is the symbol of life. All life is holy.
All people are created in the image and likeness of God.
All people are family and everyone is loved by God.
Dr. Martin Luther King reminds us that & we are
called to speak for the weak, the voiceless, for the
victims of our nation, for those it calls enemy, for no
document from human hands can make these humans any
less our brothers [and sisters].

We come here today with pictures of Iraqi people
-mothers, children, those who have been the
victims of US bombardment and sanctions for the past
twelve years. We come here with love in our hearts
for the young US service people, also victims of war
making.

We find hope in these dark times when sisters and
brothers around the world resist the spirit of hatred
and violence, lift up prayers for peace-together with works of peace.

Mary Anne Grady Flores

Ithaca Catholic Worker
Vieques Support Group
514 N. Plain St.
Ithaca, N.Y. 14850
607-273-7437
[email protected]
La Cocina Latina Catering

"Because we want peace with half a heart, half a life and will, the
war making continues. Because the making of war is total - but the making
of peace by our cowardice is partial." Father Daniel Berrigan

"There comes a time when silence is betrayal." MLK

"If you think you're too small to be effective,
you've never been in bed with a mosquito."
-- War Resisters' League