Jonah House, 1301 Moreland Avenue, Baltimore, MD 21216
Ph: 410-233-6238 or disarmnow@erols.com

PRESS RELEASE--IMMEDIATE RELEASE     February 2, 2001

CONTACT: Max Obuszewski 410-323-7200 or 410-377-7987 or mobuszewski@afsc.org
Jonah House 410-233-6238 or disarmnow@erols.com

DEPLETED URANIUM ACTIVISTS SENTENCED TO YEAR IN PRISON

WHO: On Dec. 19, 1999, Philip Berrigan and Susan Crane of Baltimore's Jonah House, the Rev. Stephen Kelly, SJ, and Elizabeth Walz, a Catholic Worker from Philadelphia, calling themselves the Plowshares Vs. Depleted Uranium, disarmed two A-10 Warthog [Fairchild Thunderbolt II] aircraft at Warfield Air National Guard Base in Middle River, Maryland. The activists hammered on the A-10s, because the plane has a Gatling gun which fires 3,900 rounds of depleted uranium per minute and was used against Iraq and Yugoslavia.

After being denied the opportunity to present a defense at their trial, the Plowshares were convicted by a jury in Towson, Maryland and sentenced to prison by Baltimore County Circuit Court Judge James T. Smith, Jr.   While Rev. Kelly remains in solitary confinement in Hagerstown, Maryland, the other three Plowshares were released from prison: Elizabeth Walz on Dec. 6, 2000; Susan Crane on Jan. 3, 2001; and Philip Berrigan on Jan. 12, 2001.

WHAT: Berrigan, Crane and Rev. Kelly were members of the Prince of Peace Plowshares, which disarmed an Aegis destroyer at the Bath [Maine] Iron Works on February 12, 1997.  They were sentenced to federal prison for this disarmament and placed on probation upon release.  While on federal probation, the three were arrested with Walz at the National Guard base in Middle River.

Accused of violating probation, Crane, first, and then Berrigan, appeared before Judge Gene Carter in federal court in Portland, Maine.  Judge Carter sentenced the Plowshares activists to one year in prison for violating probation.

WHEN:  Friday, February 2, 2001-- Susan Crane's probation violation hearing at 11 AM

Philip Berrigan's probation violation hearing at 1:30 PM

WHERE: federal courthouse in Portland, Maine

WHY: The religious activists were moved to resistance because of their grave concern that the nuclear threat still exists.  Additionally, they became aware of the deadly environmental damage  caused by the use of depleted uranium in Iraq and Yugoslavia.  So they disarmed an Aegis destroyer, suffered the consequences, and later hammered on A-10s, while on federal probation.  Judge Carter, instead of making a statement against nuclear warmaking, chose to send the peace activists back to prison.

Solidarity demonstrations took place in Portland, Maine, when supporters marched from the Bath Iron Works to the federal courthouse, and outside the Warfield Air National Guard Base in Middle River, where protesters held signs condemning depleted uranium.  While the two resisters were jailed, the resistance will continue.

    The revocation hearings were an opportunity to respond to charges of committing a crime, associating with felons and not paying restitution.  After being found guilty, each defendant was turned over to U.S. marshals.

   Susan and Phil, in addressing the court, tried to make the point that the real criminal activity occurs when the government engages in warmaking. They highlighted, for example, the invidious use of depleted uranium.

    Sister Ardeth Platte, who observed the hearings, reported that Susan Crane asked the judge how he could justify his position and not uphold the Constitution and the treaties under international law.  His response, that he did not accept the Plowshares' perspectives, brought a collective gasp from the courtroom supporters.

also see:
Concerns Raised by Philip Berrigan about Radioactive Ammunition are Echoing in Europe 1/14/2001
http://www.commondreams.org/views01/0114-03.htm
A Tale Of Two War Veterans: John McCain And Phil Berrigan 2/29/2000
http://www.commondreams.org/views/022900-102.htm
'Plowshares Vs Depleted Uranium' Activists Face Harsh Jail Sentences 3/24/2000
http://www.commondreams.org/headlines/032400-01.htm

PORTLAND, Maine - February 2 - Two peace activists were sent back to federal prison Friday for vandalizing a pair of military aircraft in Maryland while on probation for a similar incident aboard a Navy destroyer at Bath Iron Works.

U.S. District Judge Gene Carter imposed 12-month sentences on both Philip Berrigan, 77, and Susan Crane, 57, in separate hearings that were packed with more than 50 members and supporters of the peace group Plowshares.

Berrigan, a former Roman Catholic priest, did not deny that he and other demonstrators broke through a fence at a Maryland Air National Guard base and damaged two A-10 Thunderbolts. But he said he did nothing morally wrong.

''I was acting according to my conscience and the precepts of non-violent principles and laws,'' Berrigan told the judge.

In sentencing Berrigan, Carter said he believed Berrigan's conduct was based on ''beliefs that are profound and conscientiously held'' but said Berrigan's beliefs did not provide legal justification for his actions.

Afterward, a supporter stood and shouted, ''This court is an abomination to God and man!'' before being led out by a security officer.

Then Berrigan's supporters broke into a chorus and made peace signs with their hands as Berrigan was escorted from the courtroom. Some shouted, ''God bless you Phil'' and ''We love you Phil'' as he was led away.

Berrigan was originally sentenced to two years and Crane to 27 months in federal prison following the conviction of six activists for damaging USS The Sullivans while it was docked at Bath Iron Works in 1997.

The protesters boarded the ship, damaged its control panels with hammers and spilled baby bottles containing their own blood.

In addition to prison sentences, Berrigan and Crane were ordered not to engage in criminal conduct or to associate with others convicted of felonies under Carter's original terms of supervised release.

They violated those provisions on Dec. 19, 1999, when they joined a group of demonstrators that used bolt cutters to get onto a National Guard Base in Essex, Md., and vandalize two aircraft.

Berrigan said the A-10 aircraft use armor-piercing ammunition that contains depleted uranium, which he believes is the source of Gulf War Syndrome and has caused hundreds of deaths in Iraq, and in Bosnia and Yugoslavia.

''Of all the weapons of mass destruction... perhaps the most assiduous is D.U. depleted uranium,'' Berrigan said. He believes 2 million Iraqis alone have died from depleted uranium exposure and sanctions since the 1991 Persian Gulf War.

Countries that sent peacekeepers to Bosnia and Kosovo have been looking for links between the depleted uranium ammunition and illnesses contracted by veterans. So far, scientists say there is no firm link.

Before the sentencing, Berrigan's supporters marched from a Bath Iron Works dry dock to the federal court. Berrigan seemed to be at ease, smiling and chatting and having lunch with supporters before going into court.

Copyright 2001 Associated Press

Common Dreams NewsCenter is a non-profit news service providing breaking news and views for the Progressive Community
www.commondreams.org

 Susan Crane at 11:00 A.M. and Philip Berrigan at 1:30 P.M. appeared before Judge Gene Carter at revocation hearings in Portland, ME on Feb. 2nd to respond to charges of committing a crime, associating with felons, and not paying restitution. They were each sentenced to 12 months in prison and bound over immediately to the U.S. marshalls. The courtroom was filled to capacity with families, friends, community members and peacemakers from the area and surrounding states.

Susan and Phil spoke eloquently in turn speaking the facts that the real crime is committed by our government by warmaking, killing, poisoning. They defined and highlighted U238 or depleted uranium, explaining its use in Iraq,Bosnia, Kosovo, and testing in Vieques. They gave descriptions of the effects on people and the Earth. They outlined the massive numbers of rounds dropped on each nation and the deaths of the people including NATO and US military personnel.

Phil and Susan quoted the data recorded and substantiated by Dr. Rosalie Bertell that 1.3 billion people have been killed, sickened or maimed by nuclearism over the past 55 years. They elaborated on the U.S. governments role in all of it. Susan asked the judge at one point how he could justify his position and not uphold the Constitution and the treaties under International Law.

The judge responded by saying that he did not accept them. People in the courtroom gasped in disbelief of what he had acknowedged. Phil spoke strongly and firmly that he hated to think that anyone on the bench, in the courtroom would be help captive to any law that protected these horrific weapons as history reveals that law upheld racism, destruction of Native Americans, etc. He hoped that they would shrink from any view of putting these protective laws before humanity.

The prosecutor responded coldly with the prepared procedures for revocation and an adherence to the sentencing within the guidelines. The judge reiterated the usual verbal kudos of the two defendants regarding their own living of their beliefs, religious convictions, conscience and in the same breath gave the sentences.

  And all of us pray, "Oh, for the moral courage of the people in the criminal justice system to turn from these crimes against humanity and war crimes to nonviolence as the only way to continue to live."

>From Ardeth Platte, O.P. from Portland, ME

Laura