(Report and illustration courtesy of Catholic Worker)
Both the government and the defence finished their
testimony yesterday at 5 p.m. in the Kings Bay Plowshares 7 anti-nuclear
weapons case.
Defendants were able to say much more than had been expected after
the wide “in limine” restrictions established late last week before
trial.
They spoke about their strong faith motivations and their
knowledge of the horrendous effects of nuclear weapons, and read
portions of documents they had carried onto the Kings Bay submarine base
in their action on April 4, 2018, the fiftieth anniversary of the
Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr's assassination. Thursday will
likely see the trial end with closing statements, the charge to the
jury, and jury deliberations.
In a recurring pattern, the judge would allow items the seven carried
onto the sub base into evidence over frequent government objection.
Martha Hennessy was even allowed to read from the indictment that
nuclear weapons are always illegal. The judge did always remind the jury
the items admitted were only for the fact that they were left on the
base, not that they were true.
The prosecution called their final witness in the morning, base
Facilities Management Specialist Juan Melgarejo, to verify the expenses
of cleaning and repairs after the disarmament action, which he reported totalled $31,833.
Then two defendants, Martha Hennessy and Patrick O'Neill, who had not
previously given opening statements did so, and the defence began their
case with Attorney Stephanie Amiotte examining Martha Hennessy.
After
overruling an objection from the prosecution, the indictment of
nuclearism which the seven carried on to the Base and which Martha Hennessy had posted at the
Strategic Weapons Facility Engineering office (SWFLANT) finally
was allowed into evidence by Judge Lisa Godbey Wood.
Go Pro video footage was also admitted of Martha Hennessy reading Bible
verses from the prayer book “Give Us This Day” which she, Clare Grady,
Patrick O'Neill and Mark Colville had read as they waited to be apprehended by
base security personnel. Martha Hennessy ended her testimony with, “It's
imminent (nuclear war) and it haunts me.”
Next, Attorney Fred Kopp, in examining Carmen Trotta, asked why he
and his colleagues went to Kings Bay. Carmen Trotta said that the base has one
quarter of the US deployed nuclear weapons, and that it cannot be legal
to destroy nearly all life on Earth. He noted the “outrage of God at
putting his creation in jeopardy.” This witness was one of three who went to
the so-called “Limited Area,” where deadly force is authorized and where
the activists believe nuclear weapons are stored in bunkers. Fred Kopp
elicited from him the extreme caution the three took to be “careful
for everyone's sake” as they entered the zone and when they were
approached by Marine guards.
Clare Grady, in examination by Attorney Joe Cosgrove, said that the
consequences of global nuclear war are so atrocious they necessitate the
creation of the word “omnicide.”
“Trident is the crime,” she said, explaining her use of crime scene
tape, not caution tape, as the government kept calling it, at the
SWFLANT office. She also noted that her colleagues used hammers to
“deconstruct” or “transform” weapons to plowshares, instead of doing
damage as the government claims.
In cross examination, chief prosecutor
Karl Knoche rapid-fired a series of accusations at Clare Grady, claiming that
she and her co-defendants believed themselves to be a law unto
themselves. She calmly answered that the egregious use of weapons is
bullying, not the painted peace messages and blood that she and
Martha Hennessy poured on the engineering office side-walk.
Attorney Matt Daloisio examined Mark Colville, who quoted his father
saying, “Integrity is what you do when no one is looking, taking
responsibility to what you know to be true.” Mark Colville also
explained his
use of the word “idolatry” that he had written on one of the missile
replicas, noting that the Bible urges us to remove, even smash, idols.
He related that it was a long time before any authorities actually
confronted him, Clare Grady, Martha Hennessy, and Patrick O’Neill in what the activists
call the missile shrine area, even though several vehicles approached,
slowed and then drove on. So after about an hour they felt they had done
enough. They sat down and prayed, then carefully showed their hands
when the vehicles finally approached them.
In response to the repeated
cross examination accusation of arrogantly choosing to run red lights,
Mark Colville said that he ran every red light when his wife Luz was in
labour. “It was an emergency!”
Representing himself, Patrick O'Neill was examined by advisory
attorney Keith
Higgins. As a “cradle Catholic” grandchild of four immigrants from
Ireland, his faith was always his guide and led him to co-found the Fr.
Charlie Mulholland Catholic Worker in Garner, NC with his wife, Mary
Rider. He noted that Catholic workers take nonviolent action and break
the law like Rosa Parks, Susan B. Anthony, and Dr. King, to bring social
change. In reviewing the items he took onto the base, he brought
international law into the courtroom. He mentioned copies of the nuclear
Non-Proliferation Treaty and the new Treaty for the Prohibition of
Nuclear Weapons. In government's exhibit 36-1B-6 GoPro video footage he
recorded himself quoting Pope Francis saying the use and
possession of nuclear weapons is to be firmly condemned
The seven's statement is one of love and hope, he said.
Attorney
Bill Quigley questions Elizabeth McAlister during day three of the
Kings Bay Plowshares 7 trial. Illustration by Chrissy Nesbitt
Elizabeth McAlister was questioned by her attorney Bill Quigley.
After briefly describing her life growing up and her life as a nun,
McAlister explained how she got involved in the peace movement. As a
college professor during the Vietnam War, she said, 30 of her students’
boyfriends came home in body bags.
"One could not be a teacher of these young women without sharing their grief. I felt that we were being called to more."
She related the story of marrying well-known activist Philip
Berrigan, who later co-founded the Plowshares movement. They established
the activist community Jonah House in Baltimore. Elizabeth McAlister described
how her continued sense of her vocation led her to this action. Prayer,
she said, was integral to the action. There is a "reshaping" of
conscience that happens within each of us, which mirrors the
transformation we seek of weapons into tools for cultivating life. She also explained her reason for using the symbol of blood.
"War involves radical bloodshed. (Using blood as a symbol) is a way
of remembering that war is bloodshed, and we long to see the end of war
and the end of shedding the blood of another human being.”
Scott Bassett, the communications officer for the Kings Bay base was
called as a witness by the defence. Upon prompting, he testified that he
had at earlier pre-trial motions hearings given a statement to the
Washington Post. His statement said that there was no threat to any
assets or personnel at the base from the protestors. He said the
statement meant there had been no damage to military assets such as
submarines or weapons systems, not a missile display.
Apart from a few objections and brief comments to indicate his
agreement with the testimony of his co-defendants, Fr. Steve Kelly,
S.J., remained silent throughout the proceedings.
After exiting the courthouse, the defendants told a gathering of
supporters and media they were pleased that they were able to say so
much more in court about their beliefs and motivation than they had
expected because of the judge’s rulings prohibiting mention of their
religious motivations, international law, or necessity.
“We are seeing what the courts protect,” said Clare Grady.
