Raging Grannies Honor Mothers!

Friends,

It was a beautiful, sunny day as members and supporters of Ground Zero Center for Nonviolent Action gathered on Mother's Day weekend to honor mothers and create hope for the children by working together to abolish nuclear weapons.

Members of the Seattle Raging Grannies entered the crosswalk at NW Trigger Avenue & Old Frontier Rd NW, blocking the entrance to Naval Base Kitsap-Bangor, Washington on Saturday. Using walkers and canes, and carrying signs calling for an end to nuclear weapons, they were arrested by Kitsap County Sherriff’s officers. Another group subsequently entered the roadway closer to the base entrance holding a banner reading, “Abolish Nuclear Weapons”, and was also arrested. All were charged with “attempted disorderly conduct”. Based on my observations, it seemed to be much more than a mere attempt, and was definitely very orderly. These charges won't stick!

Supporters lined NW Trigger Ave holding a variety of signs and banners calling for an end to nuclear weapons. Members of Women in Black held signs saying, “We Stand for Peace”. The approximately 50 participants were honoring the intent of Julia Ward Howe’s 1870 Mother’s Day Proclamation, a passionate call for disarmament and peace; the theme of GZ’s action was “Mom Says, Use Words Not Weapons. Abolish Trident."

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The ten people arrested were Shirley Morrison, 86, of Seattle WA, Joy Goldstein, 73, of Vashon WA, Susan Kay, 63, of Seattle WA, Laurie Rostholder, 64, Seattle WA, Anne Hall, 63, of Seattle WA, Rosy Betz-Zall, 58, of Seattle WA, Jackie Hudson, 74, of Bremerton WA, Jessica Arteaga, 23, of Tacoma WA, Larry Kerschner, 62, Centralia WA, and Denny Moore, 64, of Bainbridge WA.

On the Clear Creek Rd NW overcrossing (at NW Trigger Ave) a group of Ground Zero Supporters held a banner: "Mom says, Use words, not weapons. Abolish Trident". Even after the demise of the evil Shrub empire, the U.S. is still relying far too much on weapons and not enough on words (Can you say DIPLOMACY?). President Obama IS trying to move more towards diplomacy, but will need to feel the heat to continue moving in that direction. After all, it was WORDS between Kennedy and Kruschev that prevented a nuclear holocaust during the Cuban Missile Crisis.

Naval Base Kitsap-Bangor is home to the U.S. Navy's West Coast Trident nuclear submarine fleet. "The warheads assigned to the ballistic missile submarines stationed at Bangor and at Kings Bay, Ga., now constitute more than half of the U.S. strategic weapons force" (source: Seattle Times). Ground Zero Center for Nonviolent Action is committed to nonviolent resistance to Trident and the abolition of all nuclear weapons.

Ground Zero’s next scheduled event will be August 8th -10th, commemorating the anniversaries of the bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Hope to see you there!

Peace,

Leonard

P.S. - You can read the latest (April 2009) newsletter from Ground Zero by clicking here.