A number of us were civil disobedient by blocking their driveway and walking onto their property. In an unusual move, the police declined to formally arrest us but briefly detained us by escorting us individually to the side of the road and getting driver’s license information, then releasing us (no van ride to the station for booking).
I made the attached video documentary during our October 22 demonstration at the Drone War Command Center in Horsham. This is where Air Force pilots fly the planes that do our dirty work in other lands. Video particularly recreates the August 29 2021 attack by the United States that killed 10 civilians in Kabul, Afghanistan, including 7 children. Thanks to Carol Carmon for the camera and editing work. Released this just in time for Halloween — scary, but oh too real.
Today was the annual Good Friday action at Lockheed Martin (King of Prussia facility), the world’s largest nuclear weapons contractor and war profiteer. There was also signage and vocal recognition that today (April 15) was the traditional tax-due date, and that our taxes pay for this tragedy. When the peace readings had been completed, a number of those present risked arrest by temporarily blocking their entrance. Eventually three of us moved forward onto Lockheed Martin property in an attempt to deliver a copy of the U.N Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons to Lockheed Martin officials. We were stopped by Lockheed Martin security and the Upper Merion Police. I was able to hand deliver a copy of the Treaty to the head of Lockheed Martin security before being arrested along with two of my compatriots.
Spoke again directly with my U.S. Representative Mary Gay Scanlon today (and also four months ago – see below) in a noon zoom appointment arranged by Friends Committee on National Legislation. There were ten of us, and focus was on Build Back Better bill (HR 5376) now in Congress, (more…)
Then the rains came
With Brandywine Peace Community July 3 at the Quaker Statehouse – aka Independence Hall. Message is that our country needs fixing as much as the cracked bell across the way from us. Got good attention from passers-by. Weather progressed from a cool morning drizzle setting out, to a hot sun the first hour of the demonstration, followed by a few clouds, then closed a bit early with a cloud burst of rain.
On March 8, 1971, citizens peacefully broke into the FBI office opposite the Media Court House and removed files that disclosed numerous criminal acts the FBI had committed under Hoover’s direction. The majority of their files were politically focused on liberal and left wing groups and draft resistance, while relatively few concerned traditional criminals who might pose a threat to human lives or livelihood (forget about Bonnie and Clyde). One notorious item was a copy of a blackmail letter that the FBI anonymously sent to Martin Luther King suggesting that he commit suicide or else the author would reveal evidence of sexual indiscretions. The documents revealed the COINTELPRO operation and led to a Senate investigation headed by Senator Church (the Church Committee) which reported as follows: “The Committee finds that the domestic activities of the intelligence community at times violated specific statutory prohibitions and infringed the constitutional rights of American citizens. The legal questions involved in intelligence programs were often not considered. (more…)
I participated in the Martin Luther King demonstration and celebration at Lockheed Martin today. We peacefully demonstrated against the world’s largest war profiteer and nuclear weapons’ systems contractor. We celebrated that this Friday the United Nations Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons will become international law. In accord with the U.N. Charter (to which we are signatories), the treaty having received ratification by at least fifty U.N. member countries, the manufacture, possession, or use of nuclear weapons is prohibited. The major holdouts are, not too surprisingly, the current nuclear weapon countries. We hope to change that, but there is an immediate gain by this treaty. Countries that have ratified the treaty have agreed not to manufacture, trade, possess or allow into their country any nuclear weapons. It is a major step toward world peace when countries that have been historic enemies of one another mutually agree that they will not develop or possess nuclear (more…)
Covid put a hold on some usual Fall activities (Peace Center, West Point, Drone Warfare). Attended an Immigration Rights rally last month and a Nov 5 rally to Count all the Votes. Picture of Immigration Rights marchers shows them in front of Minsell House, home of Media Historical Society. Fran is concluding her presidency of that organization at the end of the year. Simply keeping sane and healthy can be an accomplishment in these times. I have three sets of hiking friends that I see weekly, plus hiking and other activities with Fran. Missing some of the usual Villanova and Quaker activities. — ZOOM helps, but is not the same.
On the seventy-fifth anniversary of the destruction of Hiroshima, I was at Lockheed-Martin, world’s largest nuclear contractor. On August 26th Fran and I were at a Mama Bear’s Marina East pipeline action at Hickory Park in Chester Springs. Explosive gasses under high pressure will pass through residential areas and alongside public schools and senior facilities. My role was police/security liaison, monitoring the yellow team of Mama Bears (including Fran). They trespassed onto the work site and left only when threatened with immediate arrest. The security person I engaged acted aggressively, like someone right out of Blackwater training – not a good sign. Two days later Mama Bears arrived at an Exton drill site, where we held a legal demonstration while some of us carried a banner onto their construction easement.
On August 2nd my stepson William and his fiancée Ashley were married in Blue Bell. There were about one hundred guests for an outdoor wedding and dinner under a large tent. Most of what had been originally planned could still happen. They did the planning themselves – well done. Life goes on even in these times. It was a beautiful ceremony, and I am so happy for them.
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