Protest Yet Another Warship That Wastes Dollars & Enables Environmental Crime

Image: Russell Wray

Reposting this timely news from Bruce Gagnon's blog Organizing Notes.

Civil disobedience in progress last summer as the uniformed crew of the Zumwalt destroyer avert their eyes.

Fools No More! Protest BIW Destroyer ‘Christening’

Saturday, April 1, 9am - noon
General Dynamics Bath Iron Works shipyard

Activists from Maine and Massachusetts will be committing an act of non-violent civil disobedience (now also called civil resistance) at Bath Iron Works on Saturday, April 1.

The legal protest will take place starting at 9:00 am at the corner of Washington & Spring Streets in Bath.  Peace activists will line up along the sidewalk on both sides of Washington St.  

At some point during the protest those intending to do their civil resistance action will do so.

Parking could be challenging down along Washington Street so we suggest parking at the UCC Neighborhood Church (the former steak house) on the corner of Washington & Centre St in downtown Bath.)

Illustration: Anthony Freda

The protest will focus on the dramatic need to immediately take positive steps to deal with climate change.  The assembled will demand the conversion of BIW to build commuter rail systems, offshore wind turbines, solar and tidal power systems.

Please come and support those who are willing to risk arrest in order to further community reflection and discussion about our great need to address the coming harsh impacts of climate change while we still can make a difference.  

Rather than waste our tax dollars on preparations for endless war we must turn the military industrial complex toward sustainable production.

The protest is being sponsored by:  Smilin' Trees Disarmament Farm; Maine Veterans For Peace; Citizens Opposing Active Sonar Threats (COAST); Maine Natural Guard; Maine War Tax Resistance Resource Center; Global Network Against Weapons & Nuclear Power in Space; PeaceWorks; Pax Christi Maine; Merrimack Valley People for Peace (North Andover, MA); Peace & Justice Center of Eastern Maine

Banner: Russell Wray

Members of the #Zumwalt12 at their arraignment in Bath last summer. Their sign is in Korean and Japanese because these countries suffer the environmental and social ill effects of ongoing occupation by the U.S. military.

My note: Maine's congressional delegation will typically be in attendance as well. Here's my Senator Susan Collins costume for today, showcasing her many corporate sponsors.