Reflections from nuclear resister Susan Crane (Redwood City CW), soon to be released from prison

[Catholic Worker]

From: Felice Cohen-Joppa <nukere...@igc.org>

From Susan Crane, Koblenz Open Prison, Germany

January 12, 2025

After entering a German prison on June 4, 2024, I will be released on January 17, 2025 - more than 7 months of incarceration for convictions resulting from nonviolent actions at Büchel air base in Germany, where U.S. nuclear weapons are deployed. The nonviolent actions at the base were part of a community effort of 60 German peace groups who joined in a coalition to resist the U.S. nuclear weapons. Other German, Dutch and U.S. people have been held in prison on the same charges.

Thanks to everyone who has written, visited, prayed, and been so kind and generous with time and resources. I feel like you have journeyed with me. The letters and books you’ve sent have lightened the time. Thank you for sharing news of your resistance to nuclear weapons and war, and your life wisdom with me. 

While in prison, I have received amazing support from peace and music communities in Germany and the U.S., from Catholic Workers and the Evangelical church community in Koblenz, and also from the anarchist and left community in Koblenz, the IPPNW (International Physicians for the Prevention of Nuclear War) in Germany, and my lawyer Milan Martin. 

 

And I have been inspired by the letters from peace groups around Germany, who meet on a regular basis in their area. They meet outside in a public space, where people congregate and walk. They set up chairs, banners, tables and bring drinks and food, and invite people to sit with them and talk. Sometimes they play some music. This happens in Stendall, Berlin, and other places around Germany. 

Inevitably, some folks have asked about the effectiveness of our witness at the Büchel air base, about the usefulness of the time in prison. And what actions make sense in the future. Of course, I would like to think that what we do makes sense, and certainly many people have written to me with encouragement. 

To me, the reasons to resist are many:

The U.S. nuclear weapons, the B61 gravity bombs, are still in their underground bunkers at Büchel. The runway is being upgraded, and it looks like the security and fence systems are being reconfigured. Germany has agreed to accept more weapons from the United States: The Tomahawk land-attack cruise missile, and a hypersonic missile (Dark Eagle), which is still being developed, will be deployed at Wiesbaden. 

Israel's occupation and war on the Palestinians and the warmaking in Ukraine continue to bring death and destruction, while the merchants of death reel in more and more profit. Israel has dropped the equivalent of 2 nuclear weapons, the size of the bomb dropped on Hiroshima, on Gaza, which is about 6 miles by 25 miles in area.

The nations are raging, with rulers who are suicidal, crazy, mad – drunk with power and greed. The stench of death surrounds us, and war, which is Empire's way of doing business, always includes amputations, killing, starvation, rape, destruction, and misery. War creates climate change and ensures that we don't have the will or resources to address and mitigate the climate crisis. War creates moral and psychological sickness in the warmakers.

Knowing this, I think that all nonviolent actions for justice and peace are reasonable, and not only reasonable, but our duty and responsibility.  We need a variety of actions, from having the courage to speak up with friends about the warmaking, to hammering on the weapons as we convert them to something useful for human life. 

 

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The kindness of so many people I met here in Germany will stay in my heart forever. 

Despite being a prisoner, I had many unexpected opportunities to meet people because of the support of Superintendent Rolf Stahl at the Martin Luther Evangelical Church community of Koblenz. Pastor Stahl has long been supportive of the peace movement, and has shown his support by letting people on trial in Koblenz for their actions at Büchel air base stay in the church community gathering space. Because of his willingness to work with the peace community, when Susan van der Hijden and I needed an address in Koblenz, he agreed to let us use his address, and let us stay there on weekends when we had a furlough. 

When the prison boss called Pastor Stahl on the phone and asked if I could work there at the church, he said yes. That has made a big difference for me, as now every day, from 7:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., I am at the church, instead of sitting in the prison. Pastor Stahl has talked to his many colleagues and invited them to visit or contact me. Through his contacts, I have had many thoughtful and helpful conversations. Pastor Stahl has taken the time to check in with me to see how I'm doing, and has helped me in ways too many to count. 

In December I was invited to give a talk, illustrated with photos and banners, at the University of Koblenz about the U.S. nuclear weapons and civil resistance to them at Büchel. That was exciting! The room was packed with students and friends from Koblenz. The anarchists, the leftists, Pastor Stahl, and even the prison boss of the Offener Vollzug, Herr Strickert, attended.

My lawyer, Milan Martin, has been very helpful. He was by my side in the courtroom through the three trials, and he filed appeals at the higher courts through the Federal Constitutional Court, which refused to hear my case. Then, he filed an appeal in the European Court of Human Rights, as have nine other Büchel resisters. My appeal was tossed for technical reasons, while other appeals were turned down as "manifestly ill-founded.” We still think that the laws and treaties clearly make the deployment and use of nuclear weapons illegal.

Milan also contacted his clients and friends in Koblenz once I entered the open prison: gentle and outspoken anarchists and leftists who were the first to find me and visit, bringing solace and encouragement. They immediately opened their organizing space to Susan van der Hijden and me, and welcomed us into their activities. On Saturdays during Advent, I was able to join Die Linke ("The Left" political party) sharing hot drinks, soup, warm clothes, hygiene supplies and political stickers at the train station, a gathering space for the poor and unhoused.

Milan has visited me several times in prison, and argued with the prison authorities so that my rights to pray and to demonstrate were not taken away, even while I was in prison. 

It was thus an amazing development that I have been able to go to the prayer gatherings at the Peace Meadow near the main gate at Büchel. The prison guards originally said "No, of course you can't go. That's where you were arrested, right?”  

But then Milan spoke up... and Elka Koller, a doctor and pharmacist from the Büchel area, has driven to the prison to pick me up and drive me back, making it possible for me to reliably get there and back. (The prison doesn't accept train travel as "reliable" as we have to report back "on time”.)

It was also exciting when Frits ter Kuile organized a rainbow walk at Büchel, and I was given permission to go. Again, thanks to Milan's intervention, and Pastor Stahl's willingness to go with me.

The winter days are darker, with snow and rain. It is hard saying goodbye, but I am ready to get out of prison. At the same time I know there are many prisoners of conscience and others unjustly imprisoned around the world. We know of people in prison in Ukraine and Russia for their peacemaking, people in Turkish prisons for their political ideas, people around the world who are imprisoned for nonviolently standing up for peace and justice. And, of course, the United States has more than 25% of the world’s prisoners. I was moved to tears watching the Syrian rebels open the prison gates, and help all the prisoners leave.

 

It is hard to leave Germany. I have made friends through actions and prison time, steadfast comrades who I love to be with. I hope to be able to return, and help name the powers and principalities who we struggle against.

 

So perhaps you didn't see your name here… I could write pages of the names of all who have encouraged and supported my resistance to nuclear weapons. You know who you are, and I am ever so thankful, and will carry you in my heart forever.  We need to continue to struggle, continue to build community, continue to  resist.

Photos of the Rainbow Walk at Büchel air base and Susan’s talk at the University of Koblenz