Twenty nuclear weapons activists found guilty

I agree in principle with the decision to find them guilty because "trespass" on nuclear sites poses a real threat to our national security... and in fact to the world's security. They should have found a more meaningful and legal way to protest other than criminal trespass.

It's time for an end to 'MAD.' The U.S. public has been kept in the dark about the effects of nuclear weapons. The 'Civil Defense' programs on nuclear preparedness were empty fire extinguishers, and one of several areas about which our govenment lied to us.

Our Catholic Church in action, at long last, and where was Chaput?

May our God of Peace bless and protect these highly, truly, faithfully courageous young people in their hard and oppressive pilgrimage ahead

nuclear weapons are the most cowardly, immoral and diabolical instruments ever created by man, and only we have used them, and stockpile the greatest number, and continue to build them, even after The Challenge of Peace.

I appreciated Joshua's presence and insightful coverage of this event. My hope is that through such reporting many more will be awakened to the unacceptable and growing dangers, costs, and immorality of nuclear weapons. These weapons are no longer a credible deterrent, and instead are an incentive to their proliferation, which inevitably will lead to horrific consequences--either by accident or design. Humanity must ban these weapons if we and our planet are to survive.

I want to thank all those unselfish protestor for their demonstration. I worked at that facility for 32 years, making part for the weapons, also I am a Vietnam Veteran who was assigned to a combat aviation battalion. Yes, I have many emotions on the issue of how to protest the making of those weapons of mass destruction, I do protest. I portest by speaking the truth of what it takes to manufacture the weapons, truth is for step one of production, it harms the environment and the individuals in the production of these weapon. The denial from the government of the human contamination, and the destruction done to the environment is well known. Secretary of Energy Bill Richardson years ago admitted the fault of the government in protecting the workers and the surrounding communities of where weapons are manufactured. I am enternally thankful for those demonstrators that have the commitment and courage to step up and defy this construction project. Kansas Citians do not know the back door, underhanded things that have gone on to make this project happen. The citizens of Kansas City do not know the issues of remediation of the new site is very unclear as it relates to clean up resonsibility. The facility being replaced has decades of clean up issues ahead of it, also a legacy of issues related to the workers and their health, that it is reluctant to deal with in a manner of concern to the workers and the community. I am praying harder than I have ever prayed in my life, even when I was in Vietnam, that the government will realize that these weapon are of NO USE TO HUMANITY, THEY WILL NOT BE USED, THEY ARE NOT A DETERENNCE, THEY ARE A LURE FOR WAR.

The legal challenge mentioned in the last paragraph may play out as a cunning dragging-of-the-feet by City Council. Its next action on our ballot initiative against the new nuke-parts plant in KC is posted for the Council's Aug. 25 meeting, the last meeting that month. The problem: if the Council blocks the initiative from the ballot, our lawyer has only a few working days to file a court action to oppose the Council decision. All issues going to the Nov. 8 ballot must be finalized by late August. Mighty forces are arrayed against our ballot initiative, "Production of Nuclear Weapons Components Prohibited." Thanks to our resisters for their bold actions, for their hope!

It would appear today's more destructive form of nuclear device is that of the power station assemblage. That beautiful nuclear device in the sky is my favorite.

We need many more people with the courage to take a stand. All baby boomers grew up with the "threat" of nuclear weapons. It didnt solve a thing! It wont solve a thing! The U.S. should keep their word & start disarming now.

So I see what the punishment is for trespassing, let's see what the punishment is for lying to Federal investigators. I am one the the sick worker that the government witheld information from so I could get proper treatment for my illnesses. The government apologizes for lying, and people died. What kind of sentence does that deserve?

GSA official apologizes as audit finds Bannister agency misled ...
Nov 8, 2010 ... GSA official apologizes as audit finds Bannister agency misled ... “I do apologize on behalf of GSA,” said GSA Regional Administrator Jason Klumb at a ... The report indicates shortly after NBC Action News uncovered the ...

www.nbcactionnews.com/dpp/news/local_news/investigations/gsa-of... - Similarto GSA official apologizes as audit finds Bannister agency misled ...

I disagree with the comment: "'trespass' on nuclear sites poses a real threat to our national security... and in fact to the world's security. They should have found a more meaningful and legal way to protest other than criminal trespass."

Non-violent resister Steve Jacobs of Columbia, MO said in court yesterday:
"I am guilty of trespass the like a firefighter or a policeman is guilty of trespass when entering onto property in order to prevent a greater crime from occuring. You may believe the danger of nuclear annihilation is not imminent or that building these weapons of mass destruction are legal but I believe that any weapon that indiscriminately kills hundreds of thousands of innocents along with those who are targeted are immoral and have no right to exist. Creating more makes their use more imminent so we have a duty to stop their production now."

Criminal trespass is a symbolically appropriate and safe protest option in this case. One entrance to the nuclear plant construction site was blocked for about 30 minutes; there was no imminent risk to national security and world security because of their actions. Rather, it is the production of new nuclear weapons that puts our country and world at greater risk.

So they won't feel left out--

The popes Republicans must be screaming their USUAL reply to these kinds of issues and EVERY other evil they do, for that matter: abortion, abortion, abortion.

Okay, now paulte, CWG, pete the greek, Southern Catholic, Texas and a few others can feel they have been represented. I guess they, the pope and most of the hierarchs feel they are just being realistic, in a real world.

Surely, they streeeetch(read that as twist) the teachings of Jesus Christ and the laws of God(Commandments)in a Rovian(Karl, Frank Luntz and Lee Atwater) way and far beyond ALL recognition.

But they have BIG Business and BIG Religion on their side. So does Satan!

I say: may GOD the Holy Spirit bless these protesters.

This is fantastic! Thank you, ncr, for this story and please continue to cover any developments!

Thank you for your informative article about the nuclear weapons activists. I attended the court hearings on Tuesday and have to credit these activists for their courage. When the law actively supports a project, which directly contradicts human welfare and justice, it is a matter of conscience to make a stand.

When the prosecution urged a higher fee for an activist because of the “costs to the city,” I wondered how this could possibly compare with the cost of $700 million in municipal bonds to purchase “blighted” agricultural land for about $26,000 an acre (well over the going price of $2,000 to $4,000 an acre). I also wondered how building a nuclear weapons parts plant – an earlier version of which has polluted the environment and likely caused cancers and other occupational exposure illness among workers – could possibly be seen to be “necessary in the interest of the public, health safety, morals or welfare…” of the residents of the city as required by state law for such bonds?

I am grateful to these people for speaking out, and I am grateful to the National Catholic Reporter for covering this issue.

Whether Mr. Pickrell thinks he did nothing wrong is irrelevant. He broke the law by committing criminal trespass. Frankly, he should be glad that he got off as light as he and his co-conspirators did. Such a light consequence is unlikely to provide incentive for him and others like him to obey the law in the future.

These attempts to hearken back to the "good old days" of the 1960s protests is cute, but even the most liberal President in more than 40 years believes that these weapons are vital to the national security of the United States. The lesson we can draw from this is that radicals simply do not live in the real world.

Catholic Worker movement rocks!! My prayers go out to all the peacemakers out there!