Vandenberg Witness » Upcoming Events

ICBM MISSILE TEST LAUNCH FEBRUARY 25, 2012

Mike — Fri, 06 Jan 2012 04:28:30 +0000

On Feb 24 and 25 protests are planned around the world to demand a halt to the Vandenberg ICBM test launch. In Santa Barbara, Daniel Ellsberg and David Krieger will hold a press conference and rally on Feb 24 at 11 am to demand a halt. At midnight (11:55 pm Feb 24) at front gate protest will be held at Vandenberg Space Command six miles north of Lompoc on the central California coast. In the Los Angeles area, please join the Los Angeles Women’s Intenational League for Peace and Freedom for a 12 NOON protest at the Space and Missile tracking center, 262 N. Douglas, El Segundo, which is key to the launch. E-mail macgregoreddy@gmail.com for details about the Vandenberg and El Segundo events or call 831-206-5043

PACIFIC LIFE COMMUNITY ANNUAL GATHERING

Mike — Wed, 04 Jan 2012 06:58:39 +0000

Please join us for the Pacific Life Community (PLC) Occupy Vandenberg nonviolent direct action – March 12, 2012.

SEE FLYER BELOW:

2012 PLC – Occupy Vandenberg

Children and all living matter deserve a future. End U.S. imperialism. Stop the wars.

SPREAD THE WORD!

UPCOMING COURT DATE

Mike — Tue, 25 Oct 2011 06:09:24 +0000

MacGregor Eddy and L.A. Catholic Worker Theo Kayser have a Nov 17, 2011 court appearance at 8:30 am at Federal Bankruptcy Court, 1415 State St, Santa Barbara, CA 93101. This appearance is for an arrest on 7/27/2011 and 8/6/2011 respectively. L.A. Catholic Worker Jesse Lewis and Guadalupe Catholic Worker Mariah Klusmire have a December 15 court date, and L.A. Catholic Worker Jeff Dietrich has a January 19 court date all for the August 6 witness..

MONTHLY VIGILS

Mike — Fri, 30 Sep 2011 02:54:20 +0000

Monthly vigils are held at the Main Gate of Vandenberg Air Force Base, on Hwy 1, the first Wednesday of each month. Vigil times are from 4:00 to 5:00 pm during Pacific Daylight Time, and from 3:00 to 4:00 pm during Pacific Standard Time.

Contact Dennis Apel at jdapel@yahoo.com or 805-343-6322 for further information.

HEARING SET FOR SEPTEMBER 15

Mike — Fri, 09 Sep 2011 06:02:26 +0000

A hearing will take place on September 15, 2011 in the trial of Fr. Stephen Kelly, S.J., Fr. Louis Vitale, O.F.M. and Dennis Apel. The three were arrested and charged with trespassing at Vandenberg Air Force Base on November 3, 2010. They have submitted a Motion to Dismiss the charges and the September 15 hearing, before U.S. Magistrate Rita Coyne-Federman, will be to decide whether or not the charges will be dropped.
The hearing will be at at 1:30 pm at Federal Bankruptcy Court, located at 1415 State Street, Santa Barbara, CA 93101.

NEW COURT DATE

Mike — Tue, 12 Jul 2011 06:18:55 +0000

Fr Louie Vitale, O.F.M. and Dennis Apel court date was postponed until Sept 15. 2011. Fr. Louie and Dennis did appear for arraignment in Santa Barbara Federal Court on June 16. However, due to a 9th District Court ruling on a different but similar case, it was believed that the charges would be dropped. The court, however, decided to uphold the charges and the new date was set.

JULY 26 VIGIL/PROTEST AGAINST ICBM LAUNCH

Mike — Tue, 12 Jul 2011 06:01:57 +0000

A Test launch of a Minuteman III ICBM (nuclear warhead delivery system) from Vandenberg Space Command to Kwajalein in the Marshall Islands is scheduled for the early morning hours of July 27. Join us to uphold the good faith of the Nuclear Non-proliferation Treaty.

We will gather at 11:55 pm, Tuesday, July 26, at Vandenberg Space Command main gate at the Intersection of Hwy One and Lompoc Cas Melia Rd. nine miles north of Lompoc on Highway One in Santa Barbara County.

11:45 pm – Meet for briefing at Vandenberg Village parking lot. (3734 Constellation Road, Lompoc).

See MacGregor Eddy’s blog for more info or contact MacGregor Eddy via e-mail: macgregoreddy@gmail.com or call 831-206-5043, Scott Yundt at 925-443-7148 or Jim Haber at 415-828-2506

UPCOMING COURT APPEARANCE

Mike — Tue, 05 Apr 2011 03:49:42 +0000

Fr. Louis Vitale, OFM, Dennis Apel, and Fr Steve Kelly, SJ, are due to appear in court on June 16 at the Santa Barbara Federal Court – 1415 State St., Santa Barbara, 93101. The time will either be 9am or 1:30pm. Check back later for exact time and possible date change. This court appearance is for an arrest in November 2010. Letters of support can be sent to Vandenberg Witness, 4575 9th St, Guadalupe, CA 93434, or e-mail to info@vandenbergwitness.org

Fr. Steve Kelly will not appear because he is in prison serving a 15 month sentence for a Plowshares action at the Kitsap-Bangor Naval Base (see post below).

If you are in Northern California and would like to travel via a peace train for court support, please contact MacGregor Eddy via e-mail: macgregoreddy@gmail.com or call 831-206-5043. There are funds available from the Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom if train fare is unaffordable. NOTE: The train is also an educational tour as it goes through the back area of Vandenberg and you can see the missile launch gantries and pads.

DISARM NOW! PLOWSHARES ACTIVISTS ARRAIGNED

Mike — Sun, 10 Oct 2010 05:08:31 +0000

The five plowshares activists who entered the U.S. Navy’s nuclear weapons storage depot in Washington State on November 2, 2009 were arraigned on October 8 in U.S. District Court, Tacoma, Washington before Magistrate Judge Karen L. Strombom.

Anne Montgomery, RSCJ, Steve Kelly, SJ, Lynne Greenwald, Bill “Bix” Bichsel, SJ, and Susan Crane were all present to enter their not guilty pleas before Judge Strombom.

The government brought many serious charges against each of the Disarm Now! defendants for their peaceful November 2, 2009 Plowshares action. They include Conspiracy, Trespass, Destruction of Property on a Naval Installation and Depredation of Government Property.

The major consequences for the various individual charges range between 5 and 10 years in prison, and from $50, 000 to $250,000 in fines, as well as up to 3 years of supervised release, and/or up to 5 years probation.

Additionally, the judge made it clear that should the defendants be convicted on multiple charges, the court could order them to serve consecutive sentences, thereby greatly increasing the number of years they might spend in prison. The five co-defendants firmly believe there is sufficient legal doctrine substantiating their invocation of the necessity defense, and that the “Defendants’ actions are just and not at all illegal,” and therefore the case should be immediately dismissed.

The judge set a trial date for December 7, 2010 at 9:00 AM in the United States District Court, Western District of Washington at Tacoma. A pre-trial conference date is set for November 22, 2010.

Visit Disarm Now! Web site for complete information, including biographical statements and links to the work of the Disarm Now! Plowshares members.

NOVEMBER 18, 2010 TRIAL – NEW TIME

Mike — Sun, 10 Oct 2010 02:59:33 +0000

The trial for Fr. Louie Vitale, OFM, and Sr. Megan Rice will be Thursday, Nov. 18. at 1:30 PM at the Santa Barbara Federal Court – 1415 State St., Santa Barbara, 93101

Fr. Louie and Sr. Megan were arrested on August 22 2009 at a night test launch of a Minuteman III Intercontinental Ballistic Missile (hydrogen bomb delivery system) that went from Vandenberg AFB to Kwajalein atoll in the Marshall Islands.

Please come to Santa Barbara to support Fr. Louie and Sr. Megan. For more info see MacGregor Eddy’s Blog for breaking news or call 831-206-5043.