Vandenberg Witness

REGULAR MONTHLY VIGIL/WITNESS

Mike — Fri, 26 Feb 2010 23:50:06 +0000

Our regular monthly vigil is planned for Wednesday, March 3, at 3 pm. Please join us on the first Wednesday of each month at the front gate on Highway One six miles north of Lompoc. Please do not park in the middle school parking lot, but park on Mountain View Street near the school and walk to the front gate.

BUD BOOTH’S ARRAIGNMENT

Mike — Fri, 26 Feb 2010 23:37:13 +0000

Because the prosecution did not have the law he was charged with violating, Bud Booth’s February 18 arraignment was postponed until March 18, at 1:30 pm. Bud is charged with a class A misdemeanor for refusing to provide ID on November 4, 2009, when injured by the MPs. Bud is a WWII Army Air Corps veteran who flew with the late historian and author Howard Zinn. Please support Bud at the Santa Barbara Federal Court - 1415 State St., Santa Barbara, 93101. See MaGregor Eddy’s blog for further info.

http://vandenbergprotest-macgregor.blogspot.com/

UPDATE

Mike — Sat, 06 Feb 2010 04:59:18 +0000

The Wednesday (February 3) vigil, was peaceful. Seven people gathered outside the main gate. MacGregor Eddy was detained and cited for a bar and ban violation. Dennis Apel and Jorge Manley-Gil also were detained for failing to show identification. Dennis was held until 10:30 pm at the Lompoc jail; Jorge was released quickly since he was ID’d on Sunday.

Bud Boothe appears in Santa Barbara Federal Court, 1415 State St, 9 am, Thursday, February 18, for the November 4, 2009 witness when MP’s injured him. If you plan to attend, you must have ID and no cell phones are allowed inside the court. Please come to support Bud. Donations for legal costs can be sent to the Vandenberg Peace Legal Defense Fund, P.O. Box 5789, Salinas CA 93915. NOTE: Donations are not tax deductible as the Fund is not a 501 (c)(3).

Another vigil is planned for Wednesday, March 3. Please join our monthly vigils at 3 pm on the first Wednesday of every month, at the front gate on Highway One six miles north of Lompoc. Do not park in the Middleschool parking lot. Park on Mountain View Street near the school and walk to the front gate.

REGULAR MONTHLY PEACE VIGIL

Mike — Wed, 03 Feb 2010 07:06:47 +0000

There will be a Peace Vigil at Vandenberg AFB on Wednesday, Feb 3. We will assemble at 3 pm at Vandenberg AFB front gate (6 miles north of Lompoc on Highway One Santa Barbara county).

For further details call MacGregor Eddy at 831-206-5043 or e-mail macgregoreddy@gmail.com See short presentation about Vandenberg at:

http://docs.google.com/present/embed?id=dfpxc5ff_677dhqjvpc9&interval=5&autoStart=true&loop=true

UPDATE: Jorge Manly-Gil was released from jail.

See story of launch and protest in both, the Santa Barbara Independent and Santa Maria Times at:

http://www.santamariatimes.com/news/local/military/article_a08214c4-0efb-11df-a6e8-001cc4c03286.html

http://www.independent.com/news/2010/feb/01/missile-mishaps/

EIGHT ARRESTED - ONE INJURED

Mike — Mon, 01 Feb 2010 05:28:43 +0000

Eight people were arrested at the Sunday, January 31 witness. Participants in the witness were not allowed to gather in the designated protest area, nor anywhere near the base. Nobody intentionally “crossed the line.” The protest was dismantled and arrests were made by base security, who acted because the protest was not permitted by base commander, though the base was notified well before the gathering. (What happened to our right of “free speech”?)

The arrested include: Denis Apel, Tensie Hernandez-Apel, Bub Boothe, MacGregor Eddy, Judy Evered, Scott Fina, Mary Becker, and Jorge Manly-Gil.

In the first test of its kind involving Vandenberg, an ICBM launched from the Marshall Islands was aimed at southern California. The Ground-Based Interceptor launched from VAFB, about 60 miles northwest of Santa Barbara, lifted off at around 3:45 pm, but was not successful in shooting down the target, launched six minutes earlier from the far end of the Ronald Reagan Test Range at Kwajalein Atoll.

First to be cited were MacGregor and Dennis, both of whom have existing “ban-and-bar” notices from previous arrests. They were cited for trespass, though they were in the designated protest area and did not cross onto base property.

Judy Evered, in her 80’s, of Goleta, CA was held on the ground by two security guards with one soldier’s knee in her back. Her booking was interrupted because she had to be transported to the hospital in an ambulance for a shoulder injury she sustained during arrest. Evered is with the Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom and is a frequent participant in ongoing vigils at Vandenberg. She was later released from the hospital, and unprocessed by authorities.

Jorge Manly-Gil, also from the Guadalupe Catholic Worker, refused to give any
information. He was last known to be held at the Lompoc City Police
holding cell.

The others arrested were given ban-and-bar letters though they were in compliance with base policy.

MISSILE LAUNCH RESCHEDULED

Mike — Sun, 31 Jan 2010 01:37:26 +0000

There is an Interceptor Launch from Vandenberg this Sunday, January 31. Missiles launched from Reagan Test Site, Marshall Islands, and Vandenberg Air Force Base, CA. The test will simulate a Russian missile attack on the United States. We will assemble in protest at 2 pm at Vandenberg AFB front gate (6 miles north of Lompoc on Highway One Santa Barbara county).

For further details call MacGregor Eddy at 831-206-5043 or e-mail macgregoreddy@gmail.com

Check the Vandenberg website for cancellation. If test is canceled, protest is canceled.

INTERCEPTOR MISSILE TEST

Mike — Wed, 20 Jan 2010 07:55:01 +0000

The Interceptor Missile Test scheduled for Friday, January 22 has been canceled, hence the protest scheduled for Thursday, January 21 also has been canceled.

PROTEST UPCOMING INTERCEPTOR MISSILE TEST

Mike — Tue, 05 Jan 2010 05:26:53 +0000

On Friday, January 22, The Missile Defense Agency will conduct a Ground-Based Interceptor Test, FTG-06, for the missile defense system. Missiles launched from Reagan Test Site, Marshall Islands, and Vandenberg Air Force Base, CA. The test will simulate an Iranian missile attack on the United States.

We will assemble in protest on Thursday, January 21, from 4 pm to 7 pm at Vandenberg AFB front gate (6 miles north of Lompoc on Highway One Santa Barbara county).

For further details call MacGregor Eddy at 831-206-5043 or e-mail macgregoreddy@gmail.com

Check the Vandenberg website for cancellation. If test is canceled, protest is canceled.

Sponsors include: WILPF, Code Pink, Nevada Desert Experience, and War Reisisters League.

FOR A NUCLEAR WEAPONS-FREE WORLD: Non-Violent Action Against Vandenberg ICBM Launches

Mike — Thu, 31 Dec 2009 01:22:53 +0000

Fr. Louie Vitale, OFM, and Sr. Megan Rice were arrested late night August 23, 2009 for their nonviolent protest of Vandenberg Air Force Base’s test launch of a long-range nuclear missile. Please join them for an evening discussion before their Thursday morning court date.

What: Fr. Louie Vitale and Sr. Megan Rice discuss non-violent resistance to Vandenberg nuclear missile tests.

When: Wednesday, January 20, 7:00 pm

Where: Friends Meeting House, 2012 Chapala St., Santa Barbara, CA

Cost: Free

More Information: Rick Wayman, Nuclear Age Peace Foundation – (805) 965-3443

__________________________________________________________

Sponsors include: Nuclear Age Peace Foundation, Santa Barbara Friends Meeting (Quakers), Nevada Desert Experience, L.A. Catholic Worker

MINUTEMAN LAUNCH CANCELED

Mike — Sun, 15 Nov 2009 08:59:38 +0000

No reason was provided for the cancellation of the November 18 launch.

A final decision about our press conference will be made on Monday, November 16 insofar as the test could be back “on” at any moment.