8 Peace Planters arrested at KC Nuke Weapons Plant Groundbreaking ceremony -- 3 of them Catholic Workers
Frank Cordaro
Nukes! - Groundbreaking for Works of Mercy, Not Works of War" held at
the entrance of the planned site for the new nuclear weapons parts
plant in KC MO. It was an alternative ground breaking ceremony to the
billion-dollar replacement for the Honeywell nuclear weapon parts
plant that was taking place at the same time in with local and
national officials touted the new plant's local economic and national
strategic importance to 500 guests. The eight peace activists broke
off from the larger group of 70 "Peace Planters"* and stood and or
knelt in front of three large VIP buses, as they tried to come onto
the site and attend the official ground breaking ceremony. The buses
were delay for about 10 minutes until KC Police were able to arrest
the eight activists and clear the entrance so the buses could continue
on to the site.
The eight activists were arrested on site, seven were hand cuffed and
transported by police vans to the County Jail. All seven were booked,
charged with Disorderly Conduct and released on promises to return to
KC for a Nov. 4th - 9 a.m court appearance. KC Activist Sahijkaya who
was initially placed under arrest was not transported or charged.
Sahijkaya is physically handicapped and was arrested in her electric
scooter. We are looking into the causes for this discrepancy.
*The KC Peace Planters is a broad-based coalition founder by
PeaceWorks KC, the KC chapter of Physicians for Social Responsibility,
and East Meets West of Troost.
The eight arrested activists names, e-mail addresses and home towns are:
Mark Kenney <markf...@gmail.com>, Omaha NE - (402) 598-2403
Frank Cordaro <frank....@gmail.com>, Des Moines IA CW - (515) 282-4781
Ed Bloomer c/o <frank....@gmail.com>, Des Moines IA CW - (515) 243-0765
Joan Wages <jmg...@yahoo.com>, Floyd VA - (540) 745-2455
Sarah Cool <cools...@gmail.com>, Kansas City MO CWer - (816) 674-4224
Erik Johnson <eri...@earthlink.net>, Maryville TN - (856) 983-5234
Jim Hannahs <hannahs...@sbcglobal.net>, Independence MO - (816) 254-4403
Rhonda Gibson - Sahijkaya <sahj...@aol.com>, Kansas City MO - (816) 918-6463
For more info about the witness, future court dates and the future
plans for the Peace Planter's stop the nuke plant campaign contact:
Ann Suellentrop, 913-271-7925 <annsu...@gmail.com>;
Jane Stoever, 913-206-4088 <janeps...@yahoo.com>;
Sasteh Mosley, 816-918-6463 <sasteh...@eastmeetswestoftroost.ws>
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Sep. 08, 2010
National Catholic Reporter
Activists arrested at nuclear weapons plant groundbreaking
http://ncronline.org/news/peace/activists-arrested-nuclear-weapons-plant-groundbreaking
By Joshua J. McElwee <joshu...@gmail.com>
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Holding large signs and chanting refrains of "Build
for peace, not for war," eight peace activists were arrested here
Sept. 8 for blocking access to the official groundbreaking ceremony
for a major new nuclear weapons production facility.
The acts of civil disobedience came six days after Bishop Robert W.
Finn of the Kansas City-Saint Joseph diocese released a statement
asking officials to reconsider the construction of the new plant and
three weeks after 14 activists were arrested at the same site for a
separate nonviolent peace action.
The new plant, which will make nonnuclear parts for nuclear weapons,
is set to be the nation’s first new major nuclear weapons production
facility in 32 years.
Stepping in front of buses carrying local, state and federal
officials, activists halted the flow of people into the official
ceremony for a few minutes as police gathered to arrest those who
would not get out of the way and let the buses continue to move.
Reading from Finn’s statement to the 70 activists gathered at the
site, Jude Huntz, director of the diocese’s human rights office, said
the continued creation of nuclear weapons poses a "grave moral
danger."
"Let us make a decision for all of humanity," Huntz read from Finn’s
statement, "that one day this facility may be transformed from a
producer of weapons into a producer of goods that benefit all
mankind."
In a tented area away from the activists, the official groundbreaking
ceremony continued despite the disruption. Opened with a performance
by a local high school marching band and a presentation of colors by a
Boy Scout troop, the event included speeches by four members of the
Missouri congressional delegation and climaxed with a ceremonial
shoveling of dirt at the construction site.
Speaking to those gathered at the official event, Democratic
Congressman Ike Skelton said that the new nuclear facility would
become a "solid part" of the country’s system of nuclear deterrence.
"National security is important; it’s the bottom line of what we’re
all about," Skelton said. "What is done at this plant will help keep
us secure, safe and free."
Republican Sen. Kit Bond told attendees that construction of the new
facility would ensure economic growth for the local area by providing
"approximately 1,500" construction jobs.
"Projects like this help ensure economic stability in dangerous
times," Bond said. "[The plant] should be a good boost for the Kansas
City area for many years to come."
Also speaking at the event was Terry Dunn, president and CEO of JE
Dunn Construction Group. Responsible for building the new facility,
family-owned JE Dunn is known locally for its generous contributions
to charity and its ties to Catholic organizations. Members of the Dunn
family have served on diocesan development councils in the past.
Speaking to NCR after the event, Dunn said that while the Finn’s
statement may reflect the bishop’s vision and hope for the future, it
doesn’t reflect current reality.
"With dozens of countries who are armed with nuclear weapons,
including rogue nations … we believe this [plant] is an appropriate
deterrent to allow us to hopefully live in peace," Dunn said.
Currently a part of the Bannister Federal Complex, located about 13
miles south of the city’s downtown area, the Kansas City Plant is
responsible for the production and assembly of approximately 85
percent of the nonnuclear components for the U.S. nuclear arsenal. The
plant is set to be relocated beginning in 2012 to the new facility
farther south.
The National Nuclear Security Administration, a division of the U.S.
Department of Energy, has said the new facility will carry an
estimated price tag of $673 million for construction and $1.2 billion
over the next 20 years.
[Joshua McElwee is an NCR staff writer.]
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Attached photos by Joshua McElwee
Link to more of Joshua's photos:
http://picasaweb.google.com/joshua.mac/KCPlantGroundbreaking?feat=flashalbum#
