Paul's Perambulations a personal blog

On August 6^th Brandywine Peace Community was at Lockheed Martin in King of Prussia for the 80^th anniversary of the nuclear bombing of Hiroshima.  I intended to carry copies of Senate Resolution 323 (July 16, 2025) “a global effort to halt and reverse the nuclear arms race.” and House Resolution 1888 (March 5, 2025) “to direct the United States to sign the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons . . .”  to give to the workers at this facility but was stopped and arrested before I could deliver them. I gave my copies to their head of security instead.

We were charged with “creating a hazardous or physically offensive condition” (whatever that means) for standing in their driveway. There were about 200 at the demonstration and 25 of us cuffed, charged, and then released. Lockheed Martin is the world’s largest war profiteer and nuclear weapons contractor.

This Memorial Day weekend I delivered a two-page message at Villanova that seems particularly relevant now. The message was left at the President’s office, the Augustinian Heritage Room, and St. Rita’s Hall. One side reads: “Never again war!” 5.11.25. “We must reject the paradigm of war.” 5.12.25. “War is never inevitable. Weapons can and must be silenced, for they do not resolve problems but only increase them. Those who make history are the peacemakers, not those who sow seeds of suffering.” 5.14.25.  Pope Leo XIV

The other side reads: Why did Villanova choose to particularly honor a war-maker as graduation speaker? No offense intended to Admiral Paparo, but couldn’t this University have done better in its Christian mission?

April 11-15 was a busy five days. Friday was a day-long Buddhist gathering at Union Theological Seminary in Manhattan. Saturday Fran and I visited with friends we were staying with and celebrated Passover with them. Sunday I gave my Quaker Peace Testimony talk at Morningside Quaker Meeting on the 12th floor of Riverside Church. Monday we hiked all over Central Park, and Tuesday (April 15) at Villanova I demonstrated in support of peaceful use of taxes by carrying a large sign to that effect on campus. Later I went to the Media P.O. with my sign.

Ten of us braved the cold and wind in the Lockheed Martin entrance. I attempted to carry a copy of the U.N. Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons to their nuclear-weapons facility but was stopped and arrested.

Yesterday I met with Veterans for Peace walking from Maine to DC. After a meal and program at Springfield Friends Meeting, some walkers slept overnight at the Meetinghouse. Today I returned to join them in walking from the Meeting to Media, PA. Good work, my friends.

Good Friday action today at Lockheed Martin, world’s largest nuclear weapons contractor and war profiteer. We acted to stop the supply of weapons from Lockheed Martin (paid for by the U.S.) and promote a cease fire and real peace in Gaza and Israel/Palestine. I took part in a die-in at L-M’s entrance while holding a sign with the names of hundreds of children that are known dead in Gaza. We were arrested, booked and cited at the police station, and released. Brandywine Peace Community was joined by Red Letter Christians and others for a much larger event than usual.