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Michiganders Play Important Roles in Nuclear Free Future

Posted on Jul 25, 2010 by Michigan Stop the Nuclear Bombs Campaign

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Message*	“Resistance for a Nuclear-Free Future” Celebration, Conference and Action: Michiganders played some important roles, July 3 to 5, 2010 Shown in the photo are Joe and Jean Gump and frequent Plowshare activist Fr. Karl Cabot. Joe and Jean, who live in Southwest Michigan, were also both jailed for Plowshares actions against nuclear weapons. Joe served time with Karl; Jean served over four years at Alderson. Program can be found on [url] http://www.nukewatch.com/30th/schedulepage.htm [/url] Many felt this was the best “Action” ever at Y-12 gate, hosted by OREPA= Oak Ridge Environmental Peace Alliance. Leaders from Nuke Watch and The Nuclear Resister worked closely with OREPA, over 16 months, to organize their 30th Celebration of existence, including honoring “Plowshares 8”, whose first action was September 9, 1980. For many it was a reunion, and the only time to have this combination of activists together. At least over 30 years of jail time history, as a result of acts of conscience while doing civil resistance, were represented by some of the key U.S. anti-nuclear activists. A highlight was Kathy Kelly’s talk, as keynote speaker on Saturday evening. Certainly it was a very meaningful set of experiences, a lot of fun, and hopefully will make a difference in the movement to stop the building of 3 new U.S. nuclear weapons production facilities costing at least $3.5 to 5 billion just for the new Uranium Processing Facility at Y-12. Given the quality of committed activists, now with web sites, list serves, blogs, social networks, etc., we hope the news will spread quickly and far. With 23 people, in 8 vehicles, driving around 11 hours from Michigan, who attended at least some of the full weekend of the well-organized conference, celebration and action, we made a real contribution. This makes the list of individuals who have attended OREPA Actions and events, coming from Michigan, to 302 over the last 10 years! As many people have travelled several times, (for example this was my 16th OREPA Action) we’re at 547 trips (not counting a couple of trips to speak at DOE hearings, OREPA vigils or other events). Jean Gump was among the 13 who were arrested on Federal charges of trespassing, so was at Blount County’s punitive jail in Maryville, all released by dinner time on Tues., July 6th. Joe Gump, Alice Baker and Billie Jo Hickey were among the 23 who were arrested on State charges of a misdemeanor for blocking a roadway at the Y-12 nuclear weapons plant, on July 5th, so were in jail in Anderson County 5 nights. This was significant in that it was the second time for both Alice & Billie Jo, and because it was very hot, especially by the Y12 gate. Bill Hickey & Judy Burkhardt were their support, so went back down to TN, by Saturday, July 10th, to bring Alice and Billie Jo back. The Gumps were in the van from Jonah House. “The Raging Grannies of Metro Detroit” (Motoko Huthwaite, Charlotte Kish, Carolyn Apsey, Judy Markle and Kim Bergier- plus my sister, Carol Green) sang three times (though not all at each event). We were recruited by Jake to sing as part of the Puppetistas play, “Bombs Away!”, on July 4th evening. Billie Jo, and possibly others (behind masks) were acting in the play. Then, Mary Ellen Gondeck did a great job played Hillary Clinton in the brilliant and funny skit, on July 4th OREPA vigil, at Y-12 gate. It was about Dr. Strangelove’s counseling hotline (played by Ralph Hutchison), including talking with Uncle Sam (Jon Blickenstaff), Hillary Clinton (Mary Ellen Gondeck), Robert Gates (Kevin Kamps) and Jack Cohen-Joppa (as himself) about the insecurity complex of the U.S. nuclear policies. The best article I found while doing a Google search for “Who was arrested at Y-12 on July 5, 2010?” is on Michael Moore’s web site. See a YouTube for almost 2 minutes, incl. Ralph Hutchison, OREPA’s Coordinator. [url] http://www.michaelmoore.com/words/latest-news/y-12-protest-nets-dozens-arrests?print=1 [/url] Alice Baker can be seen in picture 10 in this set of 12 good pictures. They cannot be copied as the photographer, Michael Patrick, requires purchase, of at least, $9.99 for an unframed 5x7. http://www.knoxnews.com/photos/galleries/2010/jul/05/protest-y-12/23355/#section_header (Note that the clown being arrested is Marcus, from Australia, so we are praying he will not be deported.) THANK you for EVERYONE who made this long trip to TN! By Kim Joy Bergier, co-founder & co-coordinator for MISTNBC= Michigan Stop The Nuclear Bombs Campaign, [email] MISTNBC@gmail.com, [/email]cell: 248-515-2380 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting 248-515-2380 end_of_the_skype_highlighting P.S. Please feel free to use some or all of this draft report for e-mails, articles or blogs, as you share what you want of these attached articles. We have a copy of the script of the July 4th skit, written by Ralph Hutchison, to learn how to put it on ourselves at our MISTNBC Post-Action Gathering. We hope this will be after our trip back to TN for August 6-9, so keep an eye out for this invitation. Anabel Dwyer, a Michigan lawyer who attended the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) Review Conference; contributed to a workshop on this topic at the U.S. Social Forum; and led a workshop at the Resistance Conference, has requested that we also do some follow-up of the initiative from the NPT Review Conference in early May, for a “Nuclear Weapons Free Zone in the Middle East”. ________________________________________________ Here are some of what I think are the best of the 85 pictures I took. 1) 2010-07-03 & 04 Resistance for a Nuclear Free Future at Maryville College, TN (45 prints-public) http://slowrider.smugmug.com/OREPA/OREPA/2010-7-3to4RfaNFFConfatMCTN/12932550_9h5kb#934824490_Zw2KN 2) 2010-07-04 OREPA’s Sunday Vigil, 5-6 pm at gate of Y-12, Oak Ridge, TN (14 prints-public) http://slowrider.smugmug.com/OREPA/OREPA/2010-7-4OREPAsSunVigilAtY/12932896_CFMWE#934889792_CYTDZ 3) 2010-07-05 pre-Action at Y-12 (rest of footage on camcorder) (6 prints-public) http://slowrider.smugmug.com/OREPA/OREPA/2010-7-5pre-ActionAtY-12Plant/12933448_QqKd2#934898057_LbPAo See Eileen Fleming’s OpEd (off of Al-Jazeerah’s web site!). I think this is well written, including the overview of U.S. nuclear weapons. Click on: http://www.ccun.org/Opinion%20Editorials/2010/July/12%20o/Nuclear%20Deceptions%20VS%20Americans%20of%20Conscience%20By%20Eileen%20Fleming.htm I have yet to learn much about what has happened to the 13 arrested on Federal charges, except for this article in Knox News re “11 protesters arrested at Y-12 fail to show up for court hearing” [url] http://www.knoxnews.com/news/2010/jul/12/11-protesters-arrested-y-12-fail-show-court-hearin/ [/url] Thank you everyone for what you have done to make this, what I feel was the best action I have attended yet. Peace, Kim Bergier
CAPTCHA*	Enter the sum: 27 + 13 = (What is this?)

“Resistance for a Nuclear-Free Future” Celebration, Conference and Action:
Michiganders played some important roles, July 3 to 5, 2010

Shown in the photo are Joe and Jean Gump and frequent Plowshare activist Fr. Karl Cabot. Joe and Jean, who live in Southwest Michigan, were also both jailed for Plowshares actions against nuclear weapons.
Joe served time with Karl; Jean served over four years at Alderson.

Program can be found on http://www.nukewatch.com/30th/schedulepage.htm

Many felt this was the best “Action” ever at Y-12 gate, hosted by OREPA= Oak Ridge Environmental Peace Alliance. Leaders from Nuke Watch and The Nuclear Resister worked closely with OREPA, over 16 months, to organize their 30th Celebration of existence, including honoring “Plowshares 8”, whose first action was September 9, 1980. For many it was a reunion, and the only time to have this combination of activists together. At least over 30 years of jail time history, as a result of acts of conscience while doing civil resistance, were represented by some of the key U.S. anti-nuclear activists. A highlight was Kathy Kelly’s talk, as keynote speaker on Saturday evening.

Certainly it was a very meaningful set of experiences, a lot of fun, and hopefully will make a difference in the movement to stop the building of 3 new U.S. nuclear weapons production facilities costing at least $3.5 to 5 billion just for the new Uranium Processing Facility at Y-12. Given the quality of committed activists, now with web sites, list serves, blogs, social networks, etc., we hope the news will spread quickly and far.

With 23 people, in 8 vehicles, driving around 11 hours from Michigan, who attended at least some of the full weekend of the well-organized conference, celebration and action, we made a real contribution. This makes the list of individuals who have attended OREPA Actions and events, coming from Michigan, to 302 over the last 10 years! As many people have travelled several times, (for example this was my 16th OREPA Action) we’re at 547 trips (not counting a couple of trips to speak at DOE hearings, OREPA vigils or other events).

Jean Gump was among the 13 who were arrested on Federal charges of trespassing, so was at Blount County’s punitive jail in Maryville, all released by dinner time on Tues., July 6th. Joe Gump, Alice Baker and Billie Jo Hickey were among the 23 who were arrested on State charges of a misdemeanor for blocking a roadway at the Y-12 nuclear weapons plant, on July 5th, so were in jail in Anderson County 5 nights. This was significant in that it was the second time for both Alice & Billie Jo, and because it was very hot, especially by the Y12 gate. Bill Hickey & Judy Burkhardt were their support, so went back down to TN, by Saturday, July 10th, to bring Alice and Billie Jo back. The Gumps were in the van from Jonah House.

“The Raging Grannies of Metro Detroit” (Motoko Huthwaite, Charlotte Kish, Carolyn Apsey, Judy Markle and Kim Bergier- plus my sister, Carol Green) sang three times (though not all at each event). We were recruited by Jake to sing as part of the Puppetistas play, “Bombs Away!”, on July 4th evening. Billie Jo, and possibly others (behind masks) were acting in the play. Then, Mary Ellen Gondeck did a great job played Hillary Clinton in the brilliant and funny skit, on July 4th OREPA vigil, at Y-12 gate. It was about Dr. Strangelove’s counseling hotline (played by Ralph Hutchison), including talking with Uncle Sam (Jon Blickenstaff), Hillary Clinton (Mary Ellen Gondeck), Robert Gates (Kevin Kamps) and Jack Cohen-Joppa (as himself) about the insecurity complex of the U.S. nuclear policies.

The best article I found while doing a Google search for “Who was arrested at Y-12 on July 5, 2010?” is on Michael Moore’s web site. See a YouTube for almost 2 minutes, incl. Ralph Hutchison, OREPA’s Coordinator.
http://www.michaelmoore.com/words/latest-news/y-12-protest-nets-dozens-arrests?print=1

Alice Baker can be seen in picture 10 in this set of 12 good pictures. They cannot be copied as the photographer, Michael Patrick, requires purchase, of at least, $9.99 for an unframed 5x7.
http://www.knoxnews.com/photos/galleries/2010/jul/05/protest-y-12/23355/#section_header
(Note that the clown being arrested is Marcus, from Australia, so we are praying he will not be deported.)

THANK you for EVERYONE who made this long trip to TN!

By Kim Joy Bergier, co-founder & co-coordinator for
MISTNBC= Michigan Stop The Nuclear Bombs Campaign, MISTNBC@gmail.com, cell: 248-515-2380 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting 248-515-2380 end_of_the_skype_highlighting

P.S. Please feel free to use some or all of this draft report for e-mails, articles or blogs, as you share what you want of these attached articles.

We have a copy of the script of the July 4th skit, written by Ralph Hutchison, to learn how to put it on ourselves at our MISTNBC Post-Action Gathering. We hope this will be after our trip back to TN for August 6-9, so keep an eye out for this invitation. Anabel Dwyer, a Michigan lawyer who attended the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) Review Conference; contributed to a workshop on this topic at the U.S. Social Forum; and led a workshop at the Resistance Conference, has requested that we also do some follow-up of the initiative from the NPT Review Conference in early May, for a “Nuclear Weapons Free Zone in the Middle East”.
________________________________________________
Here are some of what I think are the best of the 85 pictures I took.
1) 2010-07-03 & 04 Resistance for a Nuclear Free Future at Maryville College, TN (45 prints-public)
http://slowrider.smugmug.com/OREPA/OREPA/2010-7-3to4RfaNFFConfatMCTN/12932550_9h5kb#934824490_Zw2KN
2) 2010-07-04 OREPA’s Sunday Vigil, 5-6 pm at gate of Y-12, Oak Ridge, TN (14 prints-public)
http://slowrider.smugmug.com/OREPA/OREPA/2010-7-4OREPAsSunVigilAtY/12932896_CFMWE#934889792_CYTDZ
3) 2010-07-05 pre-Action at Y-12 (rest of footage on camcorder) (6 prints-public)
http://slowrider.smugmug.com/OREPA/OREPA/2010-7-5pre-ActionAtY-12Plant/12933448_QqKd2#934898057_LbPAo
See Eileen Fleming’s OpEd (off of Al-Jazeerah’s web site!). I think this is well written, including the overview of U.S. nuclear weapons. Click on: http://www.ccun.org/Opinion%20Editorials/2010/July/12%20o/Nuclear%20Deceptions%20VS%20Americans%20of%20Conscience%20By%20Eileen%20Fleming.htm
I have yet to learn much about what has happened to the 13 arrested on Federal charges, except for this article in Knox News re “11 protesters arrested at Y-12 fail to show up for court hearing” http://www.knoxnews.com/news/2010/jul/12/11-protesters-arrested-y-12-fail-show-court-hearin/
Thank you everyone for what you have done to make this, what I feel was the best action I have attended yet.
Peace,
Kim Bergier