nuclear-news

WASHINGTON — About 30 people from the faith-based community of the Washington, D.C., area gathered Aug. 9, the anniversary of the bombing of Nagasaki, for a Prayer Service of Repentance to call for the abolition of nuclear weapons.

The vigil included an opening address by Art Laffin, a “litany of repentance,” the reading of the Hiroshima Peace Declaration, and an “apology petition,” signed by more than 700 people, that expressed repentance for the bombings and continued nuclear proliferation.

According to an email from Laffin, community members also offered prayers and, after each prayer, placed a rose on a photo of an atomic bomb victim displayed on the street to create a “makeshift shrine.”

The Dorothy Day Catholic Worker in Washington organized the event, which was also sponsored by the local, national and international Pax Christi; Columban Center for Advocacy and Outreach; Assisi Community; Jonah House; Maryknoll Office for Global Concerns; the Sisters of Mercy Institute Justice Team; and the Franciscan Action Network.

The same group also held a similar Prayer Service of Repentance and a nonviolent witness outside the Pentagon the morning of Aug. 6, the anniversary of the bombing of Hiroshima.

During that event, Kathy Boylan left the designated protest area and walked toward the Pentagon entrance with a banner reading: ” ‘Hiroshima and Nagasaki: A Butchery of Untold Magnitude’ —Pope Paul VI.” She was arrested and charged with interfering with agency functions, and failure to obey a lawful order.

BÜCHEL, GERMANY — Two U.S. activists, Redwood City Catholic Worker Susan Crane and Nukewatchmember John LaForge, were detained Aug. 6 after they entered the Büchel Air Base, where 20 U.S. nuclear weapons are reported to be deployed. Crane and LaForge wore signs reading “Weapons Inspector” and searched the base with a radiation monitor.

“We hoped to confirm that the US has removed its nuclear bombs in compliance with the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty, but our investigation was halted by the military,” Crane said in a media advisory sent out by La Forge Aug. 7.

[Maria Benevento is an NCR Bertelsen intern.]  https://www.ncronline.org/news/justice/justice-action-bulletin-protecting-counterprotesters-nuclear-repentance