August 10, 2001 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE NINETEEN
PEOPLE ARRESTED FOR SYMBOLICALLY CLOSING TRIDENT SUBMARINE BASE ON NAGASAKI
DAY, AUGUST 9, 2001. Linda Brooking, 52, Port Townsend, WA; P. Anna Johnson, 63, Seattle; Ellen Kohjima, 50, Auburn, WA; Bernie Meyer, 63, Olympia, WA; and Kay Warren, 62, Centralia, WA were apprehended by base security as they attempted to enter subase Bangor to deliver a letter to the base commander. They were able to keep traffic from entering the base for a period of time as Seattle TV stations recorded the arrests. They were given ban and bar letters ordering them to never enter the base again or they will face federal prosecution. All five were released later in the day. Two groups then blockaded the four lanes of the entrance highway with banners. The first group of seven held a banner stating: "Bangor Closed, Trident Violates International Law". This base gate was closed for a significant time before Kitsap County Sheriff's deputies began arresting the sign holders: Cobra, 48; Cecilia A. McKean, 50; and Susan Nelson, 48, all of Seattle WA; Shannon Deighan, 50; Linda Graetz, 57; Ray Kelleher, 48, all from Olympia, WA; and Barbara Hill, 53, from Elbe, WA. As the above group was being escorted to the police van, Karol Milner, 48, Lake Forest Park, WA; Michael Hill, 58, Elbe, WA; Joy Goldstein, 66, Vashon, WA; Lisa Johnson, 43, Silverdale, WA; and Shirley Morrison, 79; Rosemary Brodie, 74; Anne Hall, 56 all of Seattle, WA proceeded into the highway with a banner reading: "The Earth Is Our Mother, Treat Her With Respect". They were also handcuffed and placed in the awaiting police van for transport to the county sheriff's office for booking. Precedent for county arrestees is that they will not be prosecuted due to two past acquittals in Kitsap county courts. We will wait and see if this remains the case. These actions took place after a morning spent at Ground Zero. After enjoying breakfast, folks from the Northwest Region gathered to MOURN AND REMEMBER THE BOMBINGS OF HIROSHIMA AND NAGASAKI. We were privileged to have Naomi Iwai, director of the HYOGO COUNCIL AGAINST A & H BOMBS from Kobe, Japan with us for the day. It was 56 years ago on this day that the United States of America dropped a second nuclear bomb on Nagasaki, Japan. The plutonium used in this bomb was produced at Hanford, WA. We remembered the downwinders who have died and are still dying here in our own state as well as those dead and suffering in Japan. August 6th was the anniversary of Hiroshima and also the eleventh anniversary of the deadly sanctions on the people of Iraq, we kept in mind the persons publicly doing a ten day water only fast in Seattle to draw attention to the sanctions and to call for their end. Sanctions are a weapon of mass destruction. We listened to a reading of a "memory" of a Nagasaki survivor. The horror of this event was difficult to hear, yet today, Trident represents the will to repeat the horror of Nagasaki thousands of times over. We call our government to accountability for the suffering it has caused and say: NEVER AGAIN, NOT IN MY NAME. Approximately 70 persons walked to the main gate of subase Bangor in the mid-afternoon sun for a program of music and words. Holly Gwinn Graham, of Olympia, led us in songs she composed especially for this demonstration as well as other thought provoking songs. This was the first time back to GZ since the 70's for Holly - hopefully it will not be that long before she returns!! Those of us who were present are now called upon to witness to this day of action, mourning and remembering and saying, Nagasaki Never Again. Thanks to all of you who sent greetings in lieu of your presence.
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