Catholic Workers Arrested at U.S. Strategic Nuclear & Space Command (& other Anti-War NVDA Updates)

international | anti-war / imperialism | news report Friday December 30, 2005 20:45 by Frank Cordaro - Des Moines Catholic Worker (Iowa USA)

Feast of Holy Innocents Remembered

After a 2 ½ day retreat of community building, prayer and reflection on the infant narrative of Mathew's Gospel and the ignored yet deeper meaning of Christmas that is revealed in Scriptures, 30 brave souls gathered at the main gate of Offutt Air Force Base at 12:30 p.m. on Dec 28th, the Catholic Feast of the Holy Innocents. Their purpose was to bear witness to a truer and deeper meaning of Christmas by connecting the mission and work of Offutt's Strategic Nuclear and Space Commands to the killing of the innocent children of Bethlehem as reported in Mathew's Christmas story.

After the singing of Christmas Carols and a reading of Mathew's birth of Jesus story the group gathered on the main drive way leading onto Offutt AFB at the property line where previous demonstrations have taken place. The driveway was blocked for through traffic by Offutt Security. However, there were no Offutt Security personnel on site.

Fr Jack McCaslin, Paul Gallagher, Renee Espeland and Frank Cordaro, who planned to 'cross the line' and take their message onto the base property, held a banner that read, "HEROD KILLED THE INFANTS, STRATCOM WOULD KILL THE WORLD, CELEBRATE CHRISTMAS, SHUTDOWN STRATCOM" stood facing the base, while the rest of the group stood behind them on the drive way. The four line crossers than made personal statements why they were about to cross onto Offutt property. After their statements were made they handed the banner to support people and crossed over the white property line onto the base. With no security people to stop them, they proceeded to walk arm in arm up the 150 yard drive to the main gate with a portion of their support people walking behind them holding the banner.

When the four got to the main gate, the 10 foot iron gate was closed and Offutt security guards stood behind the gate. One officer read a Federal Citation and asked the four protestors to leave. Frank Cordaro told the guard that they intended to continue onto base property. The security officer told the four protesters they would have to climb the fence. Frank Cordaro said that it could be done. Fr Jack McCaslin said he would not be able to climb the fence. Frank than proceeded to unlatch the unlocked gate and all four protesters went through the gate opening further onto the base property. All four were immediately detained, patted down and taken to a guard house on site for booking. The remaining supporters at the gate were told to leave, in which they did.

Along with getting sited with 'ban and bar' letters, Fr Jack McCaslin and Frank Cordaro, who were in violation of previous ban and bar letters were also sited with criminal trespass 2nd degree charges from Sarpy County officers. These state charges represent a new development in Offutt's prosecution of "line crossing" protesters. Both Fr McCaslin and Cordaro have Feb 1, 2006 court dates to appear in the Sarpy Court House to answer to trespass charges. These state charges have a maximum penalty 6 months in county jail and a $1,000 fine.

Offutt AFB and the Federal Government can also charge Fr McCaslin and Cordaro with violating their previous ban and bar letters or charge all four line crossers with Federal Trespass charges, both that have a maximum penalty of six months in jail and a $5,000 fine.

Cordaro and McCaslin are considering their options and all four are waiting to see if Offutt and the Federal Government are going to file more charges.

The Four Line Crossers are:

*Fr Jack McCaslin, 76 yrs old, retire priest of 50 year from the Archdiocese of Omaha, NE

Paul Gallagher, 44 yrs old, from the Jaegerstaetter Catholic Worker Farm in Danville IL

Renee Espeland, 44 yrs old, mother of four and Chimney Sweep from Des Moines IA

*Frank Cordaro, 54 yrs old, Des Moines Catholic Worker, Des Moines IA

*Charged with State Criminal Trespass charges

For More Info contact...

Frank Cordaro
< [email protected] >
Phil Berrigan Catholic Worker House
713 Indiana Avenue, Des Moines, IA 50314
(515) 282-4781
www.DesMoinesCatholicWorker.org


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