Nuclear Resisters Arraigned for MLK Action at Bangor Submarine Base

The government is currently upgrading its entire nuclear weapons research and production infrastructure; President Obama has promised $85 billion over 10 years.

(SEATTLE) - Six people were arraigned in Tacoma Federal Court on Wednesday morning for trespassing at the Bangor nuclear submarine base on January 15, Martin Luther King Jr. Day. The arrests at Naval Base Kitsap-Bangor occurred on January 15, 2011 during a nonviolent resistance action at the Trident submarine base, which contains the largest concentration of operational nuclear weapons according to the Kansas City Star. The vigil and nonviolent direct action honoring MLK is one of three annual actions held by Ground Zero Center for Nonviolent Action. Those arrested are Norm Keegel (Bainbridge Island), Patti Bass (Poulsbo), Carolyn Dorisdotter (Seattle), Gordon Sturrock (Eugene, OR), Sam Tower (Tacoma), Robert "Berd" Whitlock (Olympia). They were protesting the presence of a vast arsenal of illegal and immoral nuclear weapons which has the potential to kill many millions of people. Before their court appearance they were joined in a vigil outside the building by 20 of their supporters, who sang songs and gave each of the protesters encouragement and an opportunity to speak. The maximum penalty for the offense is a fine of $5000 and 6 months prison. The prosecution is not presently seeking jail time, so the accused were not eligible for public defenders. Attorney Blake Kremer, arguing on behalf of the defendants, argued that the case be dismissed because the charging documents do not accuse the defendants of a crime. One of Mr. Kremer’s arguments was that the government had failed to show that the defendants had criminal intent. The magistrate reserved his decision for up to 7 days. The government is currently upgrading its entire nuclear weapons research and production infrastructure; President Obama has promised $85 billion over 10 years.

The government is planning a new generation ballistic missile submarine to replace the current Trident fleet. The new submarine, which will initially carry the Trident D-5 missile, is projected to operate through 2082. The Congressional Budget Office estimates the cost to build 12 new subs at $99 billion (Source: CBO study of Navy's 2011 shipbuilding plans).

The W76 warhead, one of two warheads deployed for the Trident D-5 missile deployed on the Trident subs, has been upgraded; each "refurbished" warhead, designated W76-1, once rebuilt at the Pantex nuclear weapons plant in Texas, contains new parts, including an enhanced firing system" that "would increase the Trident missiles' precision targeting capabilities" (source: Global Security Newswire).

For over thirty-three years Ground Zero Center for Nonviolent Action has engaged in reflection, education, training in nonviolence, community building, resistance against Trident and action toward a world without nuclear weapons.