Tucson CW & Drone Protester - John Heid Guilty of Raytheon Trespass
Frank Cordaro
at Tucson's Raytheon Missile Systems
http://groups.google.com/group/National-CW-E-mail-List/browse_thread/thread/6c68f885394d7ea8/a94dd8517d235516?hl=en&lnk=gst&q=+John+Heid+#a94dd8517d235516
---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Felice & Jack Cohen-Joppa <nukere...@igc.org>
Date: Tue, Nov 29, 2011 at 6:27 PM
Subject: Tucson Drone Protester Guilty of Raytheon Trespass
To: nukere...@igc.org
Tucson Drone Protester Guilty of Raytheon Missile Systems Trespass
by Felice Cohen-Joppa
Tucson Quaker and Catholic Worker John Heid was found guilty of
trespass at his bench trial on the morning of November 29. The charge
stemmed from an October 3 peace vigil at Raytheon Missile Systems.
Heid told the court that he had a moral, spiritual, human and legal
responsibility and right to be at Raytheon, and that his intent was
not a criminal one. He spoke about the international debate related
to drones, including in regard to the killing of innocent civilians.
"The taking of innocent lives is illegal. My awareness of that makes
me culpable," Heid said, explaining the reason for his act of
conscience.
Tucson City Judge Lex sentenced Heid to a $250 fine or 25 hours of
community service, which can include any legal protest. He was also
sentenced to 12 months of unsupervised probation.
A dozen activists gathered outside of Raytheon on October 3 to protest
drone warfare and war profiteering. The group held signs reading ³No
to War Profiteering², ³We Have Guided Missiles and Misguided Men
MLK², and ³Drone Attacks Inspire Hatred of the U.S.², as employees
drove into the factory.
Heid, holding a sign that said "Make Us Instruments of Peace", walked
toward the Raytheon gatehouse to communicate with workers about
weapons produced there (including pilotless drones and small guided
bombs and missiles to arm them, Standard Missiles, Star Wars "kill
vehicles", Mavericks, AMRAAMs, microwave crowd control beams, cluster
bombs and cruise missiles) and particularly about his concerns
regarding drone warfare.
He was stopped as he approached the gatehouse, arrested and taken to jail.
He stated, "Today, October 3rd, sandwiched between Gandhi¹s birthday
and the feast of Francis of Assisi, I come to Raytheon with a plea:
Make me an instrument of peace! I come with Gandhian nonviolence and
a Franciscan spirit to urge Raytheon Corporation to use its genius,
its imagination, its fiscal and scientific resources for the creation
and manufacture of those products that enhance life, not destroy it. I
come with the knowledge that Raytheon Missile Systems is one of the
world¹s leading manufacturers of unmanned aerial vehicle (drone)
components and missiles. I come with the knowledge that U.S. drones
are responsible for the deaths of thousands of civilians. The Human
Rights Commission of Pakistan estimates that 957 civilians were killed
in their country alone last year. I urge Raytheon to make things that
make for peaceŠ Make us instruments of peace!"
The peace vigil was one of dozens around the world happening from
October 1-8, Keep Space for Peace Week: International Week of Protest
to Stop the Militarization of Space. There was also an October 3
peace vigil at Raytheon Headquarters in Massachusetts.
The Raytheon Peacemakers have been vigiling once a month outside
Tucson¹s Raytheon plant for the past 12 years. They continue to
demonstrate against war and those who profit from it, firmly believing
that survival demands better ideas, not better weapons.
Jack & Felice Cohen-Joppa
Nuclear Resister
P.O. Box 43383, Tucson AZ 85733
(520)323-8697
nukere...@igc.org
http://nukeresister.org
