Vandenberg Witness

SENTENCED FOR HIROSHIMA/NAGASAKI DAY WITNESS

Mike — Sun, 22 Jan 2012 00:17:50 +0000

L.A. Catholic Worker Jeff Dietrich appeared in Santa Barbara Federal Court on January 19 to plead guilty to trespass charges from an August 6 action commemorating the 1945 atomic bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Jeff received a $200 fine (no jail time). Jeff stated he will NOT pay the fine.

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!

THREE SENTENCED FOR THEIR HIROSHIMA/NAGASAKI DAY WITNESS

Mike — Sat, 17 Dec 2011 05:28:14 +0000

On Thursday, December 15, Catholic Workers Jesse Lewis and Mariah Klusmire, along with Fr. Louis Vitale, OFM, appeared in Santa Barbara Federal Court to plead guilty to trespass charges from an August 6 action commemorating the 1945 atomic bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Both Jesse Lewis and Mariah Klusmire received a $100 fine (no jail time), while Fr. Vitale received one day in jail (no fine), which he will have to self surrender in January to serve. Both Jesse and Mariah stated they will NOT pay the fines.

GUILTY PLEAS BRING FINES

Mike — Sun, 20 Nov 2011 21:39:10 +0000

Theo Kayser and MacGregor Eddy appeared in Santa Barbara Federal Court on Thursday, November 17, to enter guilty pleas for their respective actions (see below). Theo Kayser received a $250. fine (no jail time), while Macgregor Eddy received a $1000. fine (no jail time). Theo Kayser stated he has no intention to pay his fine, while MacGregor Eddy indicated she intends to pay her fine.

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..

IT IS OFFICIAL

Mike — Sat, 01 Oct 2011 21:52:27 +0000

It is now official—military installations cannot charge protesters for trespass when they are on public road easements (like California Highway 1 and Ocean Avenue at Vandenberg AFB) even if they have ban and bar orders against them.

U.S. v Hobert Parker has been re-designated as a published opinion in the Ninth Circuit and been applied by U.S. Magistrate Rita Coyne-Federman, who ironically was the original judge in the Parker case. Click HERE to read about the case.

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.

MINUTEMAN III TEST POSTPONED

Mike — Thu, 22 Sep 2011 05:43:45 +0000

9/16/2011 – BARKSDALE AIR FORCE BASE, La. — The scheduled launch of an unarmed operational test Minuteman III intercontinental ballistic missile at Vandenberg AFB, Calif., Sept. 21, was postponed pending completion of post test analysis of the failed launch that occurred July 27. The launch has not yet been rescheduled.– From Air Force Global Strike Command Public Affairs. Click HERE for actual post.

CHARGES DISMISSED

Mike — Thu, 22 Sep 2011 05:33:33 +0000

On Thursday, September 15, 2011, U.S. Magistrate Rita Coyne-Federman dismissed the trespassing cases (stemming from a November 3, 2010 arrest) against Fr. Steve Kelly, S.J., Fr. Louie Vitalie, OFM, and Dennis Apel. In her decision Coyne-Federman stated that the 9th Circuit Court’s ruling in U.S.A. vs Hobart Parker made it clear that, although she believed the Base had applied a sufficient amount of control over the public highways that run through the Base to give them authority to arrest and cite for trespassing, the Base could not legally do so in concurrent jurisdiction.

It was a victory for those who have received Ban and Bar orders from the Base and who can now protest at the Main Gate without the threat of being arrested. Present in the courtroom were a number of personnel from Vandenberg Air Force Base including the Base Commander, Colonel Richard Boltz. After the verdict Magistrate Coyne-Federman stated her ruling was likely “only round one,” intimating that she thought the Government might appeal her ruling. Dennis Apel, however, already has an identical case pending in the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals which, if successful, should permanently resolve the issue unless the Government chooses to appeal the case to the Supreme Court.